110  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

The  reader  can  see  at  a  glance  the  lack  of  sul- ' 
phuric  acid  in  the  above  soil.  This  is  the 
reason  that  the  application  of  plaster  had  such  a 
beneficial  effect.  Every  other  element  of  fertil- 
ity was  present,  but  without  sulphuric  acid  it 
was  impossible  for  plants  to  come  to  maturity. 

Hundreds  of  analyses  of  different  soils  might 
be  given,  both  fertile  and  barren,  but  they  would 
only  prove  the  one  great  fact,  that  soils,  to  be 
properly  adapted  to  the  growth  of  plants,  must 
contain  every  element  that  enters  into  their 
composition.  Plants  must  have  the  necessary 
food  to  live  oil,  the  same  as  animals,  as  they 
cannot  create  an  atom  of  any  substance  to  sup- 
port themselves.  Hence,  when  there  is  a  falling 
off  in  the  productiveness  of  a  soil,  the  farmer 
should  first  ascertain  what  element  is  necessary 
to  restore  it,  and  then  add  that  substance,  in  a 
definite  quantity,  because  it  is  only  a  waste  of 
money  to  apply  what  is  not  required. 

Such  a  course  would  lead  to  an  economy  both 
of  the  money  of  the  farmer,  and  also  of  the  ele- 
ments of  fertility.  How  many  farmers  buy  ex- 
pensive manufactured  manures,  when  perhaps 
the  very  things  they  need  lie  wasting  at  their 
own  doors.  The  application  of  lime,  marl, 
muck,  wood  and  even  coal  ashes,  is  sometimes 
attended  with  better  results  than  the  most  ex- 
pensive  phosphates.      When    these    expensive 


CHARACTER   OF    SOILS.  Ill 

manures  are  applied  where  something  else  is 
needed,  the  farmer  loses  the  money  invested,  the 
labor  of  applying  them,  and  oftentimes  his  crop, 
by  not  using  the  substance  really  required. 

The  bulk  of  all  soils  consists  of  sand  and  day. 
These  are  general  terms,  and  have  no  reference 
to  the  chemical  properties  of  the  different  parts, 
as  all  granulated  bodies  in  soils  are  termed  sand, 
and  all  tenacious  substances  easily  pulverized 
are  termed  clay. 

Two  specific  terms  are  in  use  to  denote  the 
character  of  soils,  viz  : — alluvial  and  diluvial. 
Soils  that  have  been  washed  from  hills  and 
mountains  are  termed  alluvial,  but  if  they  can- 
not be  traced  to  such  a  source,  and  are  elevated 
plains,  or  the  tops  pf  hills  and  mountains,  they 
are  termed  diluvial,  and  must  be  traced  to  the 
action  of  glaciers  or  the  gradual  disintegration  of 
rocks  by  the  action  of  the  elements. 

A  knowledge  of  the  chemical  composition  of 
the  rocks,  from  which  the  sand  and  clay  are 
formed,  will  enable  us  to  judge  correctly  of  the 
kinds  of  minerals  to  be  found  in  the  soil ;  and 
of  their  adaptability  to  the  wants  of  agriculture  ; 
hence,  the  study  of  these  rocks  is  quite  as  im- 
portant as  the  study  of  the  soil  itself. 

The  rocks  essential  to  the  formation  of  fertile 
soils,  and  from  which  they  are  usually  produced, 
are     Granite,     Felspar,     Limestone,     Gypsum, 


M^mAMW 


/^ 


llnmersttg  sf  l^alifantia 

REFERENCE. 


No /l/Jl 

Division ..^ 

Range .  '  '       , :  ^....:^ 

Shelf \\:.. 1 :...:..J-:-l- 

Received f^ee^uJe.'^  ^^^  i  gyCT" 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2007  with  funding  from 

IVIicrosoft  Corporation 


http://www.archive.org/details/americanmanuresfOObrucrich 


AMERICAN    MANURES 

AND 

FAEMEKS'  AND  PLANTERS' 

G-    U    I    D    E. 


COMPRISING 

A  DESCRIPTION  OF  THE   ELEMENTS  AND    COMPOSITION  OF 

PLANTS  AND  SOILS— THE  THEORY  AND  PRACTICE  OF 

COMPOSTING— THE  VALUE  OF  STABLE  MANURE 

AND   WASTE   PRODUCTS,   ETC.,   ETC.,  ETC. 

ALSO, 

CHEMICAL  ANALYSES  OF  THE  PRINCIPAL  MANUFACTURED 

FERTILIZERS— THEIR  ASSUMED  AND  REAL  VALUE— 

AND    A    FULL  -  EXPOSE    OF    THE 


FRAUDS  PRACTISED  UPON  PURCHASERS. 


BY 

WILLIAM  H.  BRUOKISrEE,  PH.  D., 

ANALYTICAL  AND   CONSULTING  CHKMIST, 
AND 

J.    B.    CHYNOWETH. 


PHILADELPHIA  : 
WILLIAM    H.    BKUCKNER, 

1872. 


3^ 


y.rtered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1872,  by 

WILLIAM    H.    BRUCKNER, 

In  the  Office  of   the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  "Washington,  D.  C. 


///c// 


NO.  I. 
From  Philadelphia's  distinguished  Lawyer,  Theo.  Guyler : 

I  have  examined  the  several  pages  of  the  book  entitled 
"  American  Manures  and  Farmers^  and  Planters'  Guide,"  pub- 
lished at  Philadelphia,  by  Chynoweth  and  Company,  1871,  to 
which  you  asked  my  attention.  These  pages  are  numbered  214, 
216,  227,  238,  240  and  244.  I  have  also  examined  the  book  at 
large  sufficiently  to  enable  me  to  form  an  idea  of  its  general 
scope  and  tenor.  Assuming  .the  statements  of  the  book  to  be 
true  at  the  pages  indicated,  they  do  not  in  my  opinion  transcend 
the  bounds  of  legitimate  criticism  and  are  not  libellous.  The 
language,  though  severe  and  strong,  is  not  more  strong  and 
severe  than  such  facts  justify  in  a  book  devoted  to  the  useful 
instruction  of  the  people  in  a  preeminently  important  depart- 
ment of  practical  knowledge.  I  could  much  more  easily  under- 
stand, that  silence  and  the  suppression  of  such  information  on 
the  part  of  those  possessing  it,  would  be  an  offence  against 
society,  than  I  could  that  its  utterance  would  be  a  legal  offence 
against  the  rights  of  an  individual  engaged  in  the  perpetration 
of  such  deceptions.  No  man  has  a  legal  right  to  mislead  and 
deceive  the  public.  If  he  does  so  and  injury  to  any  individual 
results  therefrom,  he  is  liable  in  damages.  If  he  does  so  and  is 
exposed,  he  who  exposes  him  has  performed  a  duty,  and  not 
committed  a  wrong. 

(Signed,)  THEO.  GUYLER. 

NO.  II. 

From  the  Author  of  ''''American  Or  ape  Growers^  Guide^^''  etc. : 

Your  book  ''American  Manures  and  Farmers'  and  Planters' 
Guide,"  supplies,  most  effectually,  a  want  that  has  long  existed, 
and,  no  doubt,  will  save  millions  of  dollars  to  the  agricultural 
community,  not  only  from  the  fearless  manner  in  which  you 
have  exposed  the  frauds  of  the  manufacturers  of  special  fertilizers, 
but,  also,  by  the  lucid  and  scientific,  yet  practical  and  readily 

iii 


IV  COMMENDATIONS. 

understood  explanations  given.  You  have  brought  the  chemis- 
try and  general  science  of  agriculture  down  to  so  fine  a  point 
that  the  most  illiterate  cultivator,  if  he  can  only  read  the  English 
language,  cannot  help  but  know  what  is  wanted  to  improve  his 
land,  and  suj)ply  that  want  at  a  fair  money  value.  Forty  years 
ago,  I  was  just  arriving  at  manhood,  and  since  that  time,  have 
been  actively  employed  in  practical  farming  and  horticulture,  and 
can  truly  state,  from  actual  experience,  that  many  of  your  deduc- 
tions are  perfectly  correct.  In  fact,  you  have  brought  before  the 
public  a  greater  amount  of  reliable  information,  in  condensed 
form,  than  is  to  be  found  in  Liebig  and  Johnson  combined,  or  any 
other  work  of  the  same  kind  which  I  have  yet  seen. 

(Signed,)  WM.  CHORLTOK 


NO.  III. 

From  the  North  American  and  Tlnited  States  Gazette,  the  leading 
Commercial  Paper  of  Philadelphia : 

The  authors  premise  that  strictly  scientific  writers  on  the  use 
and  composition  of  fertilizers  are  usually  too  technical  for  the 
comprehension  of  practical  men,  and  the  merely  practical  writers 
record  results  without  elucidating  causes  or  opening  the  philoso- 
phy involved.  They  essay  to  unfold  the  frauds  of  manufactured 
manures,  of  w^hich,  it  is  said,  500,000  tons  are  sold  annually  in 
this  country,  at  a  cost  of  $25,000,000,  to  the  farmers.  One  chap- 
ter is  surrendered  to  an  exposition  of  the  elements  of  manures 
and  plants,  and  the  action  of  one  on  the  other ;  another  to  the 
kind  and  amount  of  fertilizer  different  plants  need ;  one  to  the 
composition  of  soils,  and  others  to  the  values  of  fertilizers  in 
money.  The  last  chapter  is  filled  with  analyses.  There  is 
enough  in  almost  any  ten  pages  treating  of  the  patent  manures 
and  fertilizers  to  ground  as  many  libel  suits.  One  fertilizer  after 
another  is  shown  to  be  deficient  in  value,  or  over-priced,  or 
otherwise  undesirable,  and  the  authors  state  how  they  secured 
the  material  from  which  their  analyses  w^ere  made.  So  far  as 
the  chemistry  of  agriculture  is  involved,  the  work  is  admirable. 
"We  hesitate  only  over  the  exposition  made  of  special  articles  so 
long  and  highly  commended.  But  conceding  the  truth  of  the 
statements,  every  farmer  should  use  fertilizers,  and  telescopes 
endless  in  selecting  them.  We  fail  to  notice  any  apparent  com- 
mendation of  one  at  the  cost  of  the  others,  but  do  see  that 
the  German  fertilizers  have  a  double  per  cent,  of  phosphates 
over  the  best  of  our  ow^n.  The  book  proposes  to  enable  every 
farmer  to  compost  for  himself,  and  so  secure  a  reliable  fertilizer. 
The  importance  of  the  subject  cannot  be  over-estimated,  and  th( 
capital  at  issue  will  certainly  advertize  this  work  in  one  way  oi 
another  strongly.     It  seems  to  be  thoroughly  fair  and  reliable. 


COMMENDATIONS.  V 

NO.  ly. 

OUR  HOME  PHOSPHATES. 

From  the   Charleston,   S.    (7.,    Courier: 

The  manufacture  and  sale  of  Superphosphates  under  theii 
many  different  names  and  varied  experimental  value  have  become 
of  such  importance  in  this  country  as  to  warrant  steps  being 
taken,  not  only  to  protect  the  planter  from  injustice,  but  also  iu 
the  interest  of  the  honest  dealer  who  does  give  value  received 
for  money  paid.  The  diff"erent  Governments  of  Europe  whom 
we  are  in  the  habit  of  calling  slow,  have  long  ago  said  that 
parties  selling  these  articles  shall  afSrm  the  constituents  of  their 
compounds  and  guarantee  their  proportions,  in  order  that  parties, 
whose  general  knowledge  of  chemistry  may  be  sufficient  for 
ordinary  purposes  shall,  when  they  wish  to  use  an  organic  or 
mineral  constituent  as  the  food  of  their  crop,  get  what  they  pay 
for,  or  have  the  means  of  redress. 

Our  attention  has  been  forcibly  called  to  the  subject  by  a  care- 
ful perusal  of  a  book  laid  upon  our  table  purporting  to  be  Amer- 
ican Manures,  their  moneyGalue,  by  James  Bennett  Chynoweth, 
late  Superintendent  of  Fertiliser  Works,  and  William  H.  Bruck- 
ner, Ph.  D.,  Analytical  and  Consulting  Chemist,  Philadelphia. 
A  careful  perusal  will  repay  the  planter  aiid  farmer,  also  those 
interested  in  the  sale  of  Superphosphates.  It  is  written  in  plain 
language  and  devoid  of  the  symbols  and  technical  character  of 
the  terms  of  Science.  It  is  especially  due  from  our  Charleston 
manufacturers  of  Superphosphates  that  they  give  as  wide  a  cir- 
culation as  possible  to  the  public  of  the  valuable  information 
conveyed  in  this  publication. 

If  one-half  of  what  is  told  of  the  many  subterfuges  and  false 
proportions  put  upon  our  planting  community  by  our  Northern 
manufacturing  friends  is  true,  the  market  of  the  United  States  is 
in  our  hands,  and  w^e  only  need  to  use  the  resources  which  Provi- 
dence has  committed  to  us  and  their  proper  development,  which 
ordinary  intelligence  should  give,  in  order  to  obtain  that  con- 
trolling influence  in  our  markets,  which  the  possession  of  in- 
exhaustible beds  of  Native  Bone  Phosphate  entitle  us.  In  any 
event,  the  natural  course  of  trade  ought  in  time  to  give  us  this 
control ;  but  with  the  impetus  which  this  description  of  facts, 
properly  ventilated,  should  produce,  Charleston  ought  at  one 
T)ound  to  step  to  the  front  rank,  in  the  United  States  at  least,  as  a 
manufacturer  of  fertilizers. 

We  have  taken  the  money  value  to  the  consumer  of  fourteen 
of  the  fertilizers  mentioned  in  this  publication,  the  names  of 
which  were  most  familiar  to  us,  and  some  of  whom  are  as  house- 
hold words  over  the  Cotton  States,  and  to  find  it  to  vary  from 
four  96-100  dollars  for  the  lowest  value  up,  with  variations  to 
thirty-six  93-100  dollars.  These  fertilizers  are  sold  at  the  place 
of  manufacture  at  from  forty-five  to  fifty-six  dollars  per  ton  of 


VI  COMMENDATIONS. 

2000  pounds.  !N"ow  if  our  planting  friends  experienced  so  much 
benefit  as  their  many  flattering  encomiums  show,  from  so  small 
a  value  received  in  proportion  to  the  outlay  made,  how  much 
more  favorable  would  have  been  the  reports,  and  how  much 
more  satisfactor}^  the  state  of  their  money  resources,  had  they 
received  a  fair  value  for  the  amount  paid  ?  These  writers  state 
that  there  is  consumed  in  the  United  States  to-day  five  hundred 
thousand  tons  of  fertilizers  at  a  cost  to  the  consumers  of  twenty- 
five  millions  of  dollars.  How  bright  a  vista  of  future  prosperity 
looms  up  in  future  for  us  if  we  only  use  our  best  efforts  to  cen- 
tralize this  trade,  so  immense  in  its  young  proportion,  and  direct 
its  regenerating  influences  over  our  much  divided  low  country 
of  South  Carolina.  The  larger  proportion  of  our  community 
do  not  realize  how  large  an  influence  the  possession  of  these 
phosphate  beds,  properly  developed,  will  have  on  our  commercial 
position,  and  it  will  well  become  us  in  the  future  to  use  some 
efforts  for  home  prosperity,  and  devote  some  time  and  capital 
for  the  proper  management  of  our  home  institutions. 

NO.  V. 

From  the  Journal  of  Applied  Chemistry^  publisJied  simultane- 
ously in  New  Tork^  Philadelphia  and  Boston  : 

They  carry  a  steady  lance  and  strike  pretty  hard  blows,  and 
we  should  advise  every  farmer  who  proposes  to  buy  fertilizers  to 
read  this  book  before  he  makes  too  large  an  investment.  An 
accurate  knowledge  of  the  scientific  part  of  this  book  would  save 
every  farmer  the  time  and  expense  of  many  useless  experiments. 
There  is  a  large  amount  of  information  condensed  into  a  small 
space,  and  so  far  as  we  have  been  able  to  detect  from  a  hasty 
perusal,  this  information  is  carefully  selected  and  correctly  given 
according  to  the  latest  and  best  authorities.  Some  controversial 
portions  of  the  work  might,  perhaps,  have  found  a  better  place 
in  the  columns  of  influential  newspapers,  but  we  do  not  object 
to  them  as  they  add  piquancy  and  spice  to  the  feast  the  authors 
have  aff'orded  us.  It  is  a  pity  that  a  few  dishonest  manufacturers 
of  fertilizers  have  brought  the  business  into  such  ill-repute,  and 
the  only  remedy  would  appear  to  be  just  such  an  exposure  of 
the  tricks  of  the  trade  as  is  here  given.  We  commend  the  book 
to  the  notice  of  our  agricultural  readers. 


The  work  will  be  sent  by  mail,  postage  paid,  to  any  address, 
by  remitting  the  price,  $1.50. 

Address,  WILLIAM  H.  BRUCKNER, 

Monroe,  Michigan. 

J  gents  wanted  in  every  Township  in  the  United  States.    Liberal 
inducements  offered. 


PREFACE  TO  THE  SECOND  EDITION. 


Mr.  Chynoweth's  connection  with  ^^American  Ma- 
nures '^  having  ceased,  it  aifords  the  author  pleasure  in 
announcing  that  the  first  edition  of  the  work  has  been 
exhausted,  and  thanking  the  public  for  their  kind 
patronage  of  the  same.  While  he  is  conscious  that 
certain  parties  put  forth  all  their  energies  to  suppress 
the  work  in  its  infancy,  he  is  glad  to  say  that  success 
has  not  crowned  their  efforts,  as  is  evinced  by  this 
revised  edition.  And  it  is  hoped,  not  only  by  him,  but 
he  trusts  by  all  who  have  the  welfare  of  their  fellow- 
beings  at  heart,  that  subsequent  editions  may  follow  in 
quick  succession. 

It  is  the  writer's  intention  to  embrace  in  future 
editions  of  the  work  analyses,  not  only  of  manures  re- 
presenting those  w^hich  have  been  examined,  but  of 
others ;  and  judging  from  the  following  quotation  of  a 
letter  from  a  manufacturer  of  fertilizers,  dated  Nov. 
29th,  he  will  not  be  surprised  to  find  a  marked  improve- 
ment in  the  quality  of  the  former. 

^'  The  book  has  exercised  a  great  influence  on  the 
fertilizing  business,  and  has  put  thousands  of  dollars 


Vlll  PREFACE. 

into  the  pockets  of  the  farmers.  Every  manufacturer 
has  increased  the  quality  of  his  article.  The  State  of 
Delaware  employs  a  State  Chemist,  and  all  manufac- 
turers must  have  their  fertilizers  analyzed  by  that 
chemist  before  they  are  allowed  to  sell  in  that  State, 
so  that  there  was  a  fair  chance  to  observe  the  rise  of  the 
Phosphate  Business.'^ 

Immediately  after  the  publication  of  "American 
Manures/^  Messrs.  Wattson  &  Clark,  manufacturers  of 
Superphosphate  of  Lime,  No.  135  North  Water  street, 
Philadelphia,  ichile  candidly  admitting  the  correctness 
of  analyses  and  fairness  of  criticism  of  their  product, 
informed  the  writer  that  they  manufacture  a  superphos- 
phate of  lime  (never  found  in  the  market  in  bags), 
which  they  warrant  to  contain  10  per  cent,  of  soluble 
phosphoric  acid  (anhydrous),  and  which  in  quantity 
they  are  willing  to  sell  at  the  price  laid  down  in  this 
book,  namely,  12 J  cents  per  pound,  for  soluble  phos- 
phoric acid;  or,  in  other  words,  they  charge  for  the 
above  superphosphate,  $25  per  short  ton. 

This  statement  is  made,  because  justice  demands  it; 
and  farmers  desirous  of  getting  the  worth  of  their  money, 
would  do  well  to  club  together  to  purchase  such  an 
article  in  quantity.  Subsequent  division  to  meet  the 
wants  of  each  purchaser  could  easily  be  eifected. 

^      .      WILLIAM  H.   BRUCKNER. 
March,  18^2. 


PREFACE  TO  THE  FIRST  EDITION. 


Knowledge  is  indispensably  necessary  to 
better  the  condition  of  mankind.  The  posses- 
sion of  the  information  that  will  enable  us  to 
procure  what  we  need,  is  oftentimes  more  valu- 
able than  the  possession  of  the  same  without 
such  knowledge;  the  advantages  of  the  latter 
are  temporary,  those  of  the  former  are  perma- 
nent. 

To  be  warned  of  danger  is  better  than  to  be 
armed  to  resist  it.  When  the  wrongs  and  im- 
positions practised  on  communities  are  fully 
exposed,  they  have  no  one  to  blame  but  them- 
selves for  their  continuance.  It  has  ever  been 
considered  the  duty  of  each  member  of  a  com- 
munity to  do  all  in  his  power  to  expose  and 
i^edress  existing  wrongs,  especially  when  those 
wrongs  affect  the  vital  interests  of  all.  From 
these  considerations  we  feel  it  a  duty,  and  we 
claim  the  right  of  giving  freely  the  knowledge 


4  PREFACE. 

we  possess  on  the  subjects  treated  in  this  book. 
We  shall  unmask  practices  that  have  been 
backed  up  by  favorable  reports,  and  artfully 
designed  statements,  falsely  claiming  to  be  bene- 
fits conferred  on  the  community,  and  which,  from 
a  want  of  knowledge  to  distinguish  real  from 
imaginary  good,  have  passed  currently  as  such. 
We  shall  not  attempt  to  disprove  the  statements 
of  dishonest  manufacturers  of  fertilizers  by  mere 
reasoning;  we  only  desire  the  reader  closely  to 
scrutinize  and  compare  the  focts  as  given,  and 
make  his  own  deductions.  We  challenge  the 
parties  assailed  to  disprove  them. 

We  expect  to  offend  some :  when  wrongs  are 
exposed,  thi«  is  inevitable;  and  those  parties  may 
endeavor  to  refute  the  statements  made.  Our 
justification  is  written  down  in  the  following 
pages.  In  the  language  of  Cicero,  we  shall 
"  Neither  dare  to  say  anything  that  is  false,  nor 
fear  to  say  anything  that  is  true." 

Philadelphia, 
May  Ut,  isn. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

rMPOJRTANT   PRELIMINARY   OBSERVATIONS.       (Page  11-31.) 

11,  Importance  of  our  work. — 12,  Two  kinds  of  works  on 
farming. — 13,  1st  kind,  and  remarks — 14,  2d  kind,  and  re- 
marks.— 15,  Operations  of  the  farm  may  be  intelligently  per- 
formed.— 16,  Farming  may  be  made  scientific — Book  knowledge 
necessary. — 17,  Progress  of  other  arts. — 18,  Terse,  sayings — 
Negligence  and  indifference  of  farmers. — 19,  Effect  of  knowledge 
— What  we  intend  to  show. — 20,  Effect  of  this  upon  farmers — 
Object  of  concentrated  manures — Remark. — 21,  Analyses  of  Dr. 
Bruckner — How  samples  were  obtained — Other  fertilizers  to  be 
examined — Made  manures  a  special  study. — 22,  Secrecy  and 
frauds  of  manufacturers. — 24,  Lying  circulars. — 25,  Detecti(m 
difficult — Immense  profits. — 26,  Object  of  book. — 27,  Necessity 
of  inspection. — 28,  Agricultural  Department  at  Washington  re- 
miss.—29,  All  interested  in  agriculture. — 30,  Practical  experi- 
ments to  be  made. 

CHAPTER  II. 

ELEMENTS  OF  MANURES  AND  PLANTS.      (Page  31-77.) 

31,  Definition  of  manure — Two  objects  to  be  effected — A  per- 
fect manure. — 32,  Loss  of  manures — Materials  abundant. — 33, 
Gaseous  elements — Elements  with  oxygen  forming  acids — Bases 
— Alkalies — Elements  unite  in  definite  proportions. — 34,  Defini- 

5 


6  CONTENTS. 

tion  of  element — A  compound — An  oxide — A  salt — Chemical 
affinity. — 35,  Cohesion. — Gaseous  Elements. — 35,  Oxygen — Its 
properties,  etc. — One-fifth  of  the  atmosphere — Half  of  animals 
and  plants — Source  of,  in  plants — Exhaled  by  plants. — 37,  Hy- 
drogen— Its  properties — -How  existing  in  nature — In  plants  and 
animals  —  Its  weight  —  What  it  forms  —  How  assimilated  by 
plants. — 38,  Garhuretted  Hydrogen — Where  found — Marsh  gas — 
Fire  damp — Present  in  soils. — 39,  Sulphuretted  Hydrogen — How 
formed — Its  properties — In  marshy  places — Hurtful  to  vegetation 
— Effects  in  soils. — 41,  Nitrogen — Its  properties — Forms  nitric 
acid  with  oxygen — Forms  ammonia  with  hydrogen. — 42,  Plants 
do  not  absorb  it  from  atmosphere. — 43,  Experiments  of  Lawes 
and  others  on  rain  water — Conclusion  therefrom. — 44,  Chlorine 
— Its  properties — Sources,  etc. — 45,  Elements  forming  Acids 
— Silicon — Its  appearance — Forms  silicic  acid — Silicates  of  pot- 
ash, lime,  and  magnesia — Their  use. — 45,  Silica — Crystallized 
and  amorphous— Its  properties. — 46,  Soluble  silica — How  formed, 
and  uses  of. — 47,  Value  of  soluble  silica — Sources  of  it. — 48,  Gar- 
hon — Its  properties. — 48,  Garhonic  Acid — How  formed. — 49,  Its 
uses  to  plants — Uses  of  humus  or  mould. — 50,  Phosphorus — Its 
properties,  QiQ,.-^Phosphoric  Acid — Its  composition  and  proper- 
ties — 50,  J^one  Phosphate  of  Lime— It's,  composition,  etc.-— 51, 
Neutral  Phosphate  of  Lime — Its  composition,  etc. — 51,  Super^ 
phosphate  of  Lime — Its  composition— How  formed. — 52,  Its  ac- 
tion in  soils,  and  Ronna's  report  on  its  action. — 57,  Sulphur — 
Its  properties,  etc. — 58,  Sulphuric  Acid — Its  composition  and 
uses — Cheapest  source  to  farmer. — Elements  fokming  bases. — 
58,  Galcium — Its  properties,  etc. — 59,  Oxide  of  Galcium^  or  quick 
lime— Its  composition. — 59,  Garhonate  of  Lime — Its  composition, 
etc. — How  made  quick  lime,  etc. — 59,  Hydrate  of  Lime — Its  com- 
position.—60,  How  lime  should  be  slacked. — Marls  rich  in  carbo- 
nate of  lime — Quick  lime  more  valuable  than  carbonate. — 61,  Neu- 
tralizes acids  in  soils — Liberates  ammonia. — 62,  Effect  on  iron 
pyrites — On  silicates  of  soda  and  potash — On  salt — Its  physical 
effects. — 63,  What  soils  need  lime. — 64,  How  and  what  quantity 
should  be  applied. — 65,  Sulphate  of  Lime — Its  composition — At- 
tracts little  moisture. — 66,  Its  benefits  due  to  sulphuric  acid — 
Why  but  little  required. — 66,  Magnesiuin — Its  properties. — 67, 
Magnesia — Its  composition — Its  action — Cheap  sources  of — Too 
much  hurtful. — 68,  Iron — Forms  two  oxides— Protoxide  injuri- 


CONTENTS.  7 

ous  to  vegetation. — 69,  Peroxide  of  Iron — Its  composition — Uses 
in  soils — Effect  of  too  much — How  to  correct  it,  and  effects. — 
70,  Sulphate  of  Iron — How  formed — Too  much  hurtful — How 
corrected — Iron  pyrites  useful. — 70,  Potassimn — Its  properties^ 
Oxidizes  readily — Forms  caustic  potash. — 71,  Potash — Its  proper- 
ties— Importance  to  plants — How  and  where  found  in  nature  — 
72,  Potash  from  plant  and  wood  ashes — Wood  ashes  as  manure. — 
78,  Sodium — Its  propertFes — Forms  caustic  soda — Soda  now  made 
from  common  salt. — 74,  Nitrate  of  Soda — Where  found — Its 
uses  in  soils — Soda  in  plants — Cheapest  source  of  it — Common 
Salt — Its  composition. — 75,  Action  of  salt  in  soils— Injurious  to 
some  plants  and  trees — Exterminates  insects  and  worms — How 
much  wheat  requires. 

CHAPTER   III. 

COMPOSITION   OF  PLANTS,  AND   KINDS  AND  AMOUNT  OF  MANURES 

REQUIRED.     (Page  77-104.) 

77,  Elements  vary  but  little  in  plants  of  same  kind — Effects,  if 
not  so — First  lesson  of  farmers — Popular  idea  of  action  of  ma- 
nure.— 79,  Potash^  Silicon^  and  Lime  Plants. — 80,  Remarks  on. — 
81,  Importance  of  studying  the  tables. — 82,  Ta])le  of  composition 
of  plants. — 83,  Albumen  and  Gluten — Their  uses  — >S'to?'c7i  and 
Gum — Their  uses  and  mode  of  action. — 84,  Woody  fibre — Of  no 
use  as  food — Theory  of  fattening. — 85,  Table  of  inorganic  ele- 
ments of  plants— A  key  to  application  of  fertilizers  — Remarks  on 
table.— 86,  Composition  of  wheat  and  straw— Remarks — Asli  of 
plants  uniform, — 88,  Crops  on  ordinary  land. — 89,  English  far- 
mers.— 89,  Wheat — Analysis  of  grain  and  straw — Remarks.— 90, 
Indian  (7(?r7i— Analysis  of — Remarks. — 91,  Rye — Analysis  of — 
Remarks.  —  92,  Oats  —  Analysis  of  —  Remarks. —  93,  Barley  — 
Analysis  of — Remarks, — 94,  Buckwheat — Analysis  of — Remarks. 
— 94,  Potatoes — Analysis  of — Remarks. — 95,  Clover  Hay — An- 
alysis of — Remarks. — 96,  Tobacco  and  Cotton — Analysis  of — Re- 
mai*ks. — 98,  What  should  be  applied  to  each  crop — Average  crop 
"In  thirty  States — In  Pennsylvania — In  South  Carolina. — 99,  Re- 
marks.— 100,  What  reader  should  have  learned. — 101,  What 
has  been  raised  in  four  years — What  was  taken  from  the  soil— * 
What  will  re'store  it. — 102,  Bad  effects  of  overcropping  in  United 
States  and  West  Indies. 


8  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  IV. 

ORIGIN  AND  COMPOSITION  OF  SOILS,  ETC.      (Page  104-123.) 

104,  Knowledge  of  soils  necessary — Usual  considerations  in 
purchasing  a  farm — The  true  test  of  value. — 106,  Analysis  of  soil 
near  the  Zuyder  Zee. — 107,  Amount  of  elements  in  this  soil — 
Last  how  long — How  long  cropped. — 109,  Analysis  of  a  sterile 
soil — Remarks. — 109,  Analysis  of  supposed  barren  soil — How 
benefitted. — 110,  What  plants  must  have — What  farmer  should 
do. — 111,  Sand  and  clay  the  bulk  of  soils — Alluvial  soils — Dilu- 
vial soils — Rocks  that  form  fertile  soils. — 112,  Granite,  quartz, 
felspar,  mica,  how  these  become  soils. — 113,  Potash  in  felspar. — 
114,  Carbonate  of  Lime — Its  composition  and  origin. — 114,  Sul- 
phate of  Lime — Its  office  and  where  found. — 115,  Phospliorite — 
Its  importance — Its  source  in  soils — Found  in  rocks,  etc. — 115, 
Sandstones — What  is  found  in  them — Easily  disintegrated. — 116, 
Soils — How  named  and  why — Deep  red  soils. — 117,  Mould — 
How  formed — Remarks. — 118,  A  complete  manure — Waste  must 
be  supplied. — 119,  Humus — Its  office — Water  and  carbon  the 
bulk  of  vegetation — Carbon  not  furnished  by  the  soil. — 120,  Car- 
bon furnished  by  atmosphere. — 121,  Importance  of  heat  and 
moisture. — 121,  How  to  benefit  sandy  soils. 

CHAPTER  V. 

THE  MONEY  VALUE  OF  FERTILIZERS,  ETC.   (Page  123-163.) 

124,  How  prices  should  be  rated. — 125,  Exorbitant  prices — 
How  to  lower  them. — 126,  Effect  of  high  prices. — 127,  No  return 
for  the  money. — 128,  Farmers  think  manures  must  be  bulky — 
Not  so. — 128-9,  Poorness  of  some  fertilizers — Insincerity  of 
manufacturers — Money  made  from  sale  of  w^ater. — 130,  Dishon- 
esty and  ignorance  of  manufacturers — Their  lamentations. — 131, 
The  good  old  times — Eft'ects  of  their  frauds. — 132,  Our  duty. — 
133,  Poor  state  of  agriculture — Fertilizers  in  England — In  United 
States. — 134,  Report  of  an  English  manufacturer. — 135,  State  of 
manufacturers  in  United  States. — 135-6,  Mode  of  estimating 
value  in  England  and  Germany — Not  applicable  to  United  States. 
—137,  Basis  of  value. — 138,  Analysis  of  cattle  bones,  and  amount 
of  phosphoric  acid. — 139,  Two  sources  of  phosphoric  acid — 1st 
source — 2d  source — Its  extent. — 140,   Report  of  Dr.  Pratt  on 


CONTENTS.  9 

mineral  phosphates  of  South  Carolina. — 142-3,  Analysis  of— - 
Prices — Profits  when  merely  ground— Of  no  value  in  this  state. 
— 144-5,  Soluble  phosphoric  acid — How  produced — Too  little  sul- 
phuric acid  used. — 146,  Amount  required — Amount  for  100  lbs. 
ox  bones — The  compounds  produced. — 148,  Cost  of  materials  for 
a  ton,  and  the  value. — 149,  Profits  to  manufacturers — Kmd  sold. 
— 150-1,  Cost  and  value  if  made  of  mineral  phosphate — Profits 
when  sold  at  $50  per  ton — Kind  sold. — 152-3,  A  bogus  super- 
phosphate— Insoluble  phosphoric  acid  no  value  to  farmer. — 154. 
Soluble  bone  phosphate  fraud. — 154,  Ammonia  and  Nitrogen — 
Actual  and  potential  ammonia — Actual  of  most  value — Manufac- 
turers make  no  distinction  in  giving  analyses. — 156,  Value  of 
each. — 157,  Crude  sulphate  of  ammonia — Nitrogen  as  pot.  amm. 
and  how  changed  to  actual. — 158,  Cost  of  nitrogen  in  bones.  — 
159-60,  Value  of  potash  with  tables — Deceptions  of  manufactu- 
rcrs. — 161,  Catechism  for  manufacturers. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

NATURE   AND  VALUE   OF   NATURAL  MANURES,  COMPOSTING,  ETC. 

(Page  163-192.) 

163,  Natural  manures. — 164,  These  not  sufficient. — 155,  Stable 
Manures — Their  composition  and  value. — 167,  Analysis  of  excre- 
ment and  value — City  Stable  Majiure — Its  value — Frauds  and 
profits  of  dealers. — 169,  Rotted  and  dried  stable  manure — Use  of 
rotting. — 170,  Analysis  of  hquid  excrement  and  value. — 171, 
Total  value  and  remarks. — 172,  Swamp  Muck — Its  composition, 
etc. — 173,  Eff'ects  of  application. — 174,  Composting  of  muck — 
mud — dried  earth. — 175,  Leaves  of  Trees — Their  value — Analysis 
of,  etc. — 175,  Wood  and  Coal  Ashes. — 176,  Analysis  of— Phos. 
acid  and  potash  in  ashes — Eff*ect  of  coal  and  peat  ashes. — 177. 
Soot — Its  value — Analysis  of — 177,  Marl — Its  composition,  kinds 
and  value. — 179,  Green  Manuring — Its  value,  and  better  than 
what — Long  root  plants. — 180,  How  and  when  to  green  manure 
— Benefits  limited — Rest  does  not  restore  land. — 181,  Liquid  M<i- 
nures — Their  value,  etc  — 181,  ComiJosting — What  is  necessary — 
Incorrect  method. — 183-4-5,  Proper  method  described. — 186. 
Substances  in  heap — Chemical  changes  effected.— 189,  Ground 
bones — Time  required. — 190,  Mistakes  made. 


10  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  VII. 

GENERAL    REMARKS — ANALYSES    OF   COMMERCIAL    FERTILIZERS, 
WITH    COMMENTS    AND    CRITICISMS — METHODS    OF    ANALYSIS. 

(Page  192-2G0.) 

192,  What  this  chapter  will  show — Cure  for  frauds. — 193, 
What  manufacturers  may  object  to — Our  reply. — 194,  Farm  pro- 
duce inspected — The  golden  rule. — 195,  Analyses  of  Watson  & 
Clark's  Superphosphate — Its  money  value.— 196,  Remarks 
on. — 197,  Analyses  of  Rhodes'  Superphosphate — Its  money 
value. — 198,  Remarks  on. — 199,  Analyses  of  Berger  &  Butz's 
Excelsior  Superphosphate  of  Lime — Its  money  value. — 200, 
Remarks  on. — 201,  Analyses  of  "Magnum  Bonum  Soluble 
Phosphate,"  Dugdale  &  Girvin,  sole  proprietors,  Baltimore, 
Md. — Its  money  value. — 202-3,  Remarks  on — Their  garbled  an- 
alysis.— 204,  Their  bombast. — 205,  Evasion  of  law  of  Maryland. 
— 206,  Analyses  of  Whann's  Raw  Bone  Superphosphate 
— Its  money  value. — 207,  Remarks — Extracts  from  circular. — 
208-9,  False  statements. — 210,  Cheated  in  our  purchase.— 211, 
Analyses  of  Soluble  Pacific  Guano — Its  money  value. — 212, 
Remarks — Light  in  weight — Heavy  in  water,  etc. — 213-14,  Ex- 
tracts from  circular. — 215,  Bogus  chemists  and  garbled  analysis. 
— 216,  Brag — Great  cry  and  little  wool. — 217,  Analyses  of 
Baugh  &  Sons'  Raw  Bone  Superphosphate — Its  money  value. 
— 218-19,  Remarks* on — Extracts  from  circular. — 220,  Garbled 
analysis. — 221,  Analyses  of  Frank  Coe's  Superphosphate 
OF  Lime— Its  money  value — Remarks — Analysis  of  in  1854  and 
1865 — Deterioration  since  then. — 223,  Analyses  of  Mono  Phil- 
lips' "Phuine"— Its  money  value. — 224,  Analyses  of  Moro 
Phillips'  Genuine  Improved  Superphosphate  of  Lime — Its 
money  value. — 225,  Remarks  on  the  Superphosphate  and  Phuine 
. — Extracts  from  circular. — 227,  A  great  blow  and  little  show — 
Phuine  the  greatest  swindle. — 228,  Excellenza  Ammoniated 
Soluble  Phosphate — Analysis  of — Its  money  value.— 229-30, 
Remarks. — 231,  Analyses  of  Bower's  Complete  Manure — 
Its  money  value.— 232,  Short  weight.— 233-34,  Extracts  from 
circular. — 235,  The  mountain  in  labor. — 236,  Commendatory  let- 
ters.— 238,  The  manure  a  fraud. — 239,  Analyses  of  Patapsco 
Guano  Company's  Ammoniated  Soluble  Phosphate  —  Its 
money  value. — 240,  Remarks  on — Garbled  analysis. — 241,  Ex- 
tracts from  circular. — 242,  Analyses  of  Needles'  Improved 
Superphosphate  of  Lime — Its  money  value. — 243,  A  fraud  in 
weight  and  quality. — 244,  Manufacturer  should  be  prosecuted. — 
245,  Analyses  of  the  Bromophyte  Fertilizer — I  s  money 
value. — 246,  Remarks  and  extracts. — 248,  etc.,  Humorous  certi- 
ficates.— 252,  Stealing  thunder. — 252,  Methods  of  Analysis— 
For  total  nitrogen — For  actual  ammonia  and  potash — For 
phos.  acid. — 254,  Concluding  Remarks. — 255,  Effect  of  certifi- 
cates.— 256,  No  complaints  published. — 257,  3Iistakes  of  farmers 
in  giving  certificates. — 258,  As  soon  give  certificate  to  a  thief — 
Necessity  for  inspection. — 259,  Inspection  in  Germany  and  its 
efl'ects  iu  securing  the  manufacture  of  good  manures. 


CHAPTER  I. 


IMPORTANT    INTRODUCTORY   OBSERVATIONS. 


Within  tlie  past  few  years,  several  valuable 
additions  have  been  made  to  the  agricultural 
literature  of  our  country,  by  some  of  the  most 
practical,  scientific  men  of  the  times,  and  we 
suppose  that  the  publication  of  another  book  on 
the  subject  of  farming,  and  its  interests,  may  at 
this  time,  be  considered  unnecessary. 

But  when  we  have  stated  the  reasons  that 
lead  us  to  issue  this  publication,  and  the  im- 
portant interests  we  intend  to  discuss,  we  think 
the  public  at  large,  and  especially  our  progressive 
farmers,  who  desire  to  elevate  their  profession 
and  raise  the  largest  crops  with  the  least  possible 
outlay,  without  impairing  the  value  of  their 
lands,  will  agree  with  us,  that  the  imforma- 
tion  contained  in  this  book  has  long  been  needed, 
and   that   its   publication    is   only   the   natural 

working  of  the  law  of  demand  and  supply. 
2  11 


12  AMERICAN    MANURES. 

The  bulk  of  the  agricultural  literature  of  the 
day  has  two  vital  defects,  calculated  to  defeat 
the  end  for  which  it  is  intended.  The  direct 
cause  of  this  failure  may  be  traced  to  the 
writers  themselves,  who  may  be  classified  as 
follows : 

First.  The  purely  professional,  scientific  man, 
who,  unfortunately,  cannot  divest  his  writings 
of  the  symbols  and  technical  characters  and 
terms  of  science ;  as  he  has  a  reputation  to  sustain 
or  acquire  among  the  savans  of  the  world,  and 
the  scientific  men  of  the  country.  Their  works 
may  be  ever  so  progressive,  and  show  great 
originality  and  merit,  with  an  amount  of  labor 
and  patient  research  deserving  of  the  highest 
commendation.  Still  they  signally  fail  in  the 
object  intended — that  of  giving  plain,  practical 
information  to  our  farmers — as  the  most  of 
them,  on  account  of  their  technical  character, 
present  as  much  difficulty  to  the  uninstructed 
mind  of  the  general  farmer  as  if  they  were 
written  in  Greek  characters. 

It  is  not  our  purpose  to  condemn  works  of  this 
class ;  they  are  needed  as  text  books  in  oui 
educational  institutions,  and  as  books  of  reference 
for  the  scientific  portion  of  the  community.  And 
as  standard  works  in  science,  they  could  not 
be  well  given  in  any  other  form  ;  and  the  farmer, 
had  he  the  leisure,  and  the  inclination,  to  give 


INTRODUCTION.  13 

them  a  thorough  study,  would  be  amply  repaid. 
But  we  must  accept  the  fact,  that  the  majority 
of  our  farmers  are  not  educated  chemists,  and 
that  in  connection  with  the  labors  of  the  farm, 
they  have  not  the  time;  and  it  cannot  be  ex- 
pected that  they  would  have  the  inclination  to 
prosecute  a  study  that  requires  so  much  patient 
research  as  the  science  of  chemistry.  To  be- 
come acquainted  with  those  intricate  processes 
which  are  at  all  times  taking  place  in  the  plant, — 
the  germination  of  the  seed,  the  causes  that  lead 
to  the  formation  of  the  complex  and  changing 
compounds  in  the  different  stages  of  the  growth 
of  the  plant,  the  formation  of  the  varied  colors 
and  perfume  of  the  blossoms,  the  changes  that 
take  place  in  the  ripening  of  the  fruit, — is  a  life- 
long study  for  men  who  have  leisure^  with  a 
natural  aptitude  for  the  subject.  We  do  not 
question  the  utility  of  these  studies.  A  more 
intimate  knowledge  of  vegetable  physiology 
will  undoubtedly  be  of  incalculable  benefit,  in 
indicating  the  causes  and  cure  of  disease  and 
blight  in  plants,  which  often  disappoints  the 
hopes  of  our  farmers. 

But  the  majority  of  those  who  have  to  take 
hold  of  the  handles  of  the  plow  themselves, 
require  more  practical  information ;  and  in  order 
to  render  it  acceptable,  it  should  be  given  in 
practical  terms,  so  that  when  they  seek  informa- 


14  AMERICAN    MANURES. 

tion  on  any  subject  connected  with  their  busi- 
ness, they  shall  not  be  discouraged  by  a  long 
array  of  (to  them)  meaningless  symbols,  or  have 
to  be  continually  referring  to  a  chemical  dic- 
tionary to  know  what  the  writer  means. 

We  do  not  intend  any  one  to  infer,  that  we 
ignore,  or  attempt  to  bring  science  into  discredit. 
The  farmer  needs  all  the  science  he  can  get,  and 
he  would  find  himself  greatly  benefited  by  a 
general  application  of  all  its  discoveries.  But 
he  needs  an  interpreter  of  the  truths  and 
fiicts  that  have  been  demonstrated  by  the 
patient  research  of  those  who  have  been  favored 
with  opportunities,  time  and  means  to  devote 
to  the  subject. 

And  in  this  book  we  shall  endeavor  to  give 
all  the  practical  knowledge,  so  far  developed 
and  established  as  truths  and  fixed  facts  {not 
speculations)^  having  a  particular  connection 
with  agriculture,  and  this  will  be  rendered  in 
such  plain  language  that  a  child  may  read  and 
understand. 

The  second  class  of  writers,  whose  productions 
are  commonly  found  in  the  Agricultural  Journals 
of  the  day,  fall  into  the  opposite  extreme. 

These  writers  are  practical  farmers,  and  write 
with  the  commendable  intention  of  giving  the 
results  of  their  experience  to  benefit  their 
brethren. 


INTRODUCTION.  15 

They  generally  give  a  brief  description  of 
their  experiments,  and  the  benefits  derived  from 
them,  as  shown  in  the  improved  condition  and 
fertility  of  their  lands.  The  information  thus 
given  is  very  good  as  far  as  it  goes,  but  as  these 
experiments  are  generally  made  without  a  clear 
knowledge  of  the  defects  intended  to  be  remedied, 
or  of  the  nature  of  the  materials  employed,  they 
must  naturally  be  risky :  they  may  succeed  or 
fail.  As  experiments  so  made  must  naturally 
cause  a  great  waste  of  time  and  money,  the 
value  of  practical  knowledge  is  apparent. 

The  farmer  to  work  intelligently  should  know 
w^hat  is  the  best  and  cheapest  means  to  effect  a 
desired  end,  and  this  cannot  be  done  until  he  is 
fully  acquainted  with  the  chemical  and  physical 
defects  of  his  soil,  and  the  nature  and  properties 
of  those  materials  that  he  can  procure  to  correct 
them.  There  is  no  operation  of  the  farm  that 
cannot  be  performed  so  intelligently  as'  the 
burning  of  limestone  to  produce  quick  lime,  and 
tlie  subsequent  application  of  this  lime  to  hasten 
the  decomposition  of  dead  vegetable  substances 
in  the  soil,  and  give  food  to  plants.  It  is  not 
our  intention  to  insult  the  good  sense  of  our 
practical  farmers  by  any  labored  defence  of 
Avhat  is  termed  book  farming.  The  prejudices 
supposed  to  exist  against  valuable  information 
that  can  be  given  on  this  i<u+)ject  in   books  arf* 


16  AMERICAN    MAXUKES. 

only  myths,  the  bugbecar  of  those  parties  Avho 
make  a  business  of  giving  information,  and 
writing  books  on  subjects  of  which  they  are 
entirely  ignorant;  and  the  thin  veil  of  whose 
pretensions  is  so  transparent  that  the  farmer 
soon  discovers  the  emptiness  that  is  within,  and 
those  writers  get  the  contempt  and  derision 
they  so  deservedly  merit. 

Farming  should  and  can  be  elevated  to  a 
science;  but  in  order  to  effect  this,  the  farmer 
should  realize  that  he  has  more  to  learn  than 
the  building  of  fences,  ploughing  and  cultivating 
the  soil,  sowing  the  seed  and  gathering  the 
harvest,  with  the  general  care  of  his  live  stock. 
That  the  necessary  know^ledge  for  the  per- 
formance of  these  things  can  be  transmitted 
orally,  from  father  to  son,  without  the  aid  of 
books,  we  will  admit.  But  if  this  was  all  that 
Avas  necessary  to  be  known,  farming  would  be 
degraded  to  mere  labor  and  manual  dexterity, 
not  requiring  as  much  skill  and  intelligence  as 
is  exhibited  by  some  of  the  lower  animals  in 
providing  for  their  wants.  Traditional  know- 
ledge is  not  progressive.  It  is  only  when  one 
generation  preserves  the  knowledge  they  have 
acquired  in  the  form  of  written  books,  that  the 
next  generation  are  enabled  to  extend  that 
knowledge,  and  improve  the  arts  or  sciences  to 
which  they  are  ^levoted.     If  we  do  not  know 


INTRODUCTION.  17 

what  has  been  already  done,  how  are  we   to 
know  where  to  begin  to  improve  ? 

We  might  spend  a  lifetime  in  perfecting 
some  invention  that  had  been  proved  to  be  a 
faikire  a  century  before.  We  should  all  have 
to  commence  at  the  beginning,  and  life  is  too 
short  to  be  wasted  in  that  manner.  The  suc- 
cessive steps  by  which  many  of  the  arts  and 
manufactures  have  advanced  to  their  present 
perfection  are  fully  recorded.  We  can  profit  by 
the  mistakes,  as  well  as  the  discoveries,  of  our 
ancestors,  and  these  mistakes  need  not  be  again 
repeated.  We  are  enabled  to  sift  what  is 
valuable  from  the  worthless,  appropriate  it  to 
our  use  and  improve  on  it. 

These  are  a  few  of  the  advantages  of  books 
on  industrial  pursuits.  As  far  as  agriculture  is 
concerned,  we  think  the  intelligent  farmer  will 
admit  that  his  business  has  less  advantages  in 
this  respect  than  many  others,  and  consequently 
is  far  behind  the  other  industries  of  civilization. 

There  are  many  terse  sayings  and  proverbs 
connected  with  farming,  that  have  probably  been 
handed  down  from  father  to  son  for  hundreds  of 
years.  These  generally  contain  a  good  deal  of 
strong,  sound  common  sense.  One  at  this  mo- 
ment presents  itself  to  our  own  mind.  "  The 
man  who  makes  two  blades  of  grass  grow  where 
one  grew  before  is  a  benefactor  to  his  country." 


i^  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

This  saying  is  very  good  as  far  as  it  goes,  but  it 
seems  to  be  incomplete,  and  we  will  make  a 
little  addition  to  it,  as  follows :  "  But  the  man 
who  continually  gathers  from  the  soil,  and 
returns  nothing  to  it  until  he  can  gather  no 
more,  changing  a  fertile  smiling  land  into  a 
sterile  wilderness,  impoverishes  himself,  wrongs 
his  country,  and  beggars  his  children."  This 
may  seem  severe,  but  it  is  none  the  less  true. 
How  much  individual  poverty  has  been  caused 
by  excessive  cropping,  and  a  total  neglect  or 
an  inadequate  application  of  manures?  That 
this  state  of  things  has  in  a  great  measure  been 
caused  by  ignorance  w^e  will  charitably  admit, 
but  whatever  be  the  cause  of  the  evil,  the  effect 
is  the  same. 

In  this  vital  principle  of  true  and  successful 
farming,  sustaining  fertility  by  sufficient  manur- 
ing, we  are  as  a  nation  shamefully  ignorant  and 
criminally  negligent.  In  this  matter  many  of 
our  farmers  seem  totally  indifferent,  either  to 
precept  or  example ;  and  the  work  of  deteriora- 
tion is  still  going  on,  unchecked  and  unheeded 
in  all  parts  of  the  country^  while  the  very  sub- 
stances that  would  prevent  and  avert  this 
great  national  evil  are  allowed  to  go  to  waste 
everywhere.  Farmers  often  permit  their  stable 
manure  to  lie  for  months  exposed  to  the  in- 
fluence of  the   weather,   thus   losing  the   most 


INTRODUCTION.  TO 

valuable  part  of  it^  namely  the  ammonia,  and 
the  soluble  salts  that  are  dissolved  and  washed 
away  by  the  rain.  Whereas  all  such  substances 
should  be  carefully  stored  under  cover,  so  that  a 
certain  amount  of  fermentation  may  be  produced, 
thus  preparing  them  as  an  active  manure  when 
needed.  All  the  waste  materials  of  the  farm 
should  thus  be  prepared.  The  day  will  come 
when  this  raw  material  of  future  crops  will  be 
considered  as  worthy  of  a  store-house  as  the 
crop  itself 

An  accurate  knowledge  of  the  value  of  these 
waste  products,  as  representing  grass  and  butter, 
corn,  beef  and  bread,  and  the  other  necessaries 
of  life,  will  naturally  lead  to  economy  in  saving 
those  materials.  It  is  the  paramount  object  of 
this  book,  to  give  the  former  clear,  comprehensive 
views  of  the  theory  and  practice  of  manuring, 
so  that  he  can,  at  the  least  possible  expense, 
raise  large  crops,  preserve  the  standard  fertility 
of  his  lands,  and  leave  an  unimpaired  inheritance 
to  his  children. 

In  order  to  do  this  we  shall  show  the  nature, 
properties,  and  source  of  the  different  elements 
that  are  exhausted  by  cultivation,  and  required 
to  be  renewed  as  manures. 

The  general  composition  of  different  crops  and 
plants  that  are  cultivated  on  the  farm,  aUo  tlip 
nature    source,  and    properties    of   the    various 


20        '  AMERICAN    MANURES. 

soils  from  which  these  plants  must  be  pro- 
duced. • 

When  the  farmer  is  fully  informed  on  these 
subjects,  he  can  realize  the  commercial  value  of 
those  elements  of  fertility,  that  are  yearly  re- 
moved from  his  land,  in  the  various  forms  of  the 
j)roduce  that  is  sent  to  market )  and  also,  if  he 
does  not  add  anything  to  his  soil  in  the  shape  of 
manure,  and  only  realizes  a  bare  living  for  his 
labor,  he  can  see  how  much  poorer  he  is  becoming 
every  year.  A  thorough  knowledge  and  ap- 
preciation of  these  things  will  at  once  convince 
the  farmer,  that  it  is  impossible  for  him  to 
preserve  the  fertility  of  his  soil  unimpaired,  even 
by  the  most  economical  and  judicious  saving  and 
application  of  all  the  waste  substances  produced 
on  his  farm;  that  the  portion  of  this  produce 
which  is  removed  from  the  farm,  in  the  shape 
of  cattle,  and  grain,  and  other  produce,  is  a 
constant  drain  on  the  valuable  elements  of 
fertility,  that  should  finally  give  his  land  a 
value;  and  that  if  he  wishes  to  preserve  its 
average  productiveness,  or  improve  it,  he  must 
return  an  equivalent  in  some  cheaper  form. 

To  meet  this  want,  concentrated  manures  and 
superphosphate  of  lime  are  prepared,  and  the 
farmer  finds  in  them  the  most  convenient  means 
at  hk  command  to  supply  the  wants  of  his  land. 
As  the  names  and  prices  of  these  fertilizers  are  ' 


INTRODUCTION.  21 

no  criterion  of  their  merits  or  value,  this  book 
will  come  directly  to  his  assistance,  and  of  the 
many  evils  of  fraud  and  deception,  he  will  be 
enabled  to  choose  the  least. 

The  manufacture  of  superphosphate  of  lime 
will  be  fully  reviewed,  showing  what  it  now  is, 
and  what  it  should  be. 

Full  analyses,  with  critical  examinations,  will 
be  given,  with  a  money  value,  based  on  the 
amount  of  the  valuable  constituents,  solubility, 
and  mechanical  condition  of  the  different  man- 
ures. 

These  analyses  of  the  different  manufactured 
manures  Avere  made  by  Dr.  William  H.  Bruckner. 
Samples  were  obtained,  as  follows :  Packages 
already  put  up  for  sale  to  the  farmer  were  pur- 
chased from  the  manufacturers  or  their  agents. 
Each  package  was  opened  as  soon  as  it  arrived 
at  our  office,  in  the  presence  of  witnesses,  its 
contents  thoroughly  mixed,  and  a  sample  of  about 
five  pounds  taken  from  at  least  fifty  places  of  the 
thoroughly  mixed  heap,  thus  guarding  against 
varying  quality  in  the  mass.  Two  analyses  in 
all  cases  were  made  of  different  portions  of  this 
five-pound  sample ;  hence  there  cannot  possibly 
be  any  error  in  the  result. 

Having  guarded  ourselves  against  all  possible 
contingencies,  there  will  be  no  retraction  on  our 
part   of    anything    stated    about    manufactured 


22  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

manures,  however  much  manufacturers  may  he 
offended  or  feel  aggrieved. 

We  have  made  no  invidious  distinctions  be- 
tween the  different  manures,  but  have  endeavored 
to  the  best  of  our  ability  to  deal  out  even-handed 
justice  to  all  alike.  We  regret  very  much, 
however,  that  the  limited  time  at  our  command 
would  not  permit  us  to  examine  all  the  manures 
offered  in  the  market.  We  have  selected  the 
most  prominent  ones;  and  hope  the  neglected 
manufacturers  wdll  accept  our  want  of  time  as 
an  apology,  when  we  inform  them  that  their 
manures  will  receive  our  attention  at  the  earliest 
possible  moment — sooner^  perhaps^  than  they  de- 
sire it. 

It  is  not  our  intention  or  desire  to  do  an  act  of 
injustice  to  any  one,  but  we  are  not  to  he  deterred 
from  exposing  fraud  and  imposition. 

We  know  that  there  are,  or  should  be,  some 
conscientious  capable  men  in  this  business,  who 
desire  to  make  a  good  article,  and  give  the 
farmer  a  fair  return  for  his  money.  Their 
manures,  as  shown  by  Dr.  Bruckner's  analyses, 
are  the  best  tests  of  their  comparative  honesty  and 
capacity  :  "  By  their  fruits  ye  shall  know  them." 

One  of  the  writers  of  this  book  has  been 
thoroughly  acquainted  with  the  manufacture  of 
fertilizers  and  superphosphate  of  lime  for  more 
than  ten  years,  and  during  that  time  has  super- 


INTRODUCTION.  23 

intended  two  of  the  largest  establishments  for 
the  manufacture  of  fertilizers  in  this  country. 
He  has  also  made  the  important  subject  of 
manuring  an  especial  study,  and  he  is  thoroughly 
acquainted  with  the  w^hole  business  as  now  con- 
ducted, the  sources  and  nature  of  the  materials 
used,  the  cost  to  the  manufiicturers  and  the 
methods  of  manufacturing,  with  its  entire  cost 
of  production;  all  of  which  information  so  far 
has  been  preserved  as  secrets  from  the  general 
public.  The  work  of  deception  and  dissimula- 
tion has  been  carried  on  so  extensively  by  some 
of  these  manufacturers,  that  we  need  not  wonder 
when  w^e  see  them  attempting  to  deceive  even 
themselves. 

There  has  also  been  a  secrecy  preserved  in 
nearly  all  their  operations,^  with  an  affectation 
of  science  that  would  rival  the  pretensions  of  the 
alchemists  of  the  middle  age^.  The  similarity 
does  not  stop  there ;  all  the  other  characteristics 
are  preserved — unmitigated  ignorance  of  the 
elements  with  which  they  work,  or  the  ends 
they  should  produce.  With  unblushing  effron- 
tery they  make  a  parade  of  science,  placing 
'themselves  before  the  country  as  public  bene- 
factors, while  they  eat  up  the  substance  of 
the  land  without  giving  an  adequate  return,  and 
are  stumbling-blocks  in  the  path  of  progress. 
That    they   have   been    able   to   do   this   with 


24  AMERICAN    MANURES. 

impunity,  is  due  to  the  fact  of  the  secrecy  with 
which  all  their  operations  are  conducted. 

There  is  a  sort  of  free-masonry  preserved 
among  them.  In  securing  a  customer,  one  of 
the  standard  phrases  of  the  trade  is,  "  We  do 
not  commend  our  article  by  giving  another 
manufacturer  a  bad  nartie." 

No,  dear  reader.  They  do  not  speak  ill  of 
each  other.  What  other  business  can  boast  the 
possession  of  this  virtue  in  such  an  eminent 
degree?  But  withhold  your  admiration  a  mo- 
ment, dear  reader.  "  When  rogues  fall  out, 
honest  men  get  their  due."  These  manufacturers 
live  in  glass  houses,  and  throwing  stones  might 
endanger  their  own  property. 

This  unity,  and  secrecy,  in  connection  with 
the  pressing  wants  of  our  farmers,  have  given 
them  facilities  for  accumulating  princely  fortunes 
by  practices  that  may  be  styled  anything  but 
honest,  while  at  the  same  time  making  loud- 
mouthed pretensions  of  all  the  liberal  virtues. 

This  may  seem  unnecessarily  severe ;  but  were 
it  less  so,  it  might  fail  in  awakening  a  proper 
sense  of  the  impositions  that  are  practised  upon 
the  most  deserving  part  of  the  community,  those 
who  furnish  us  bread. 

One  of  the  proofs  of  the  dishonesty  of  some  of 
the  manufacturers  may  be  found  in  their  lying 
circulars    and    pamphlets,    which    are    full    of 


INTRODUCTION..  25 

misrepresentationSj  and  some  even  contain  false 
and  garbled  analyses  intended,  or  at  least 
calculated  to  deceive,  by  giving  combinations 
of  elements  that  are  not  found  in  their  manures, 
or,  if  found,  in  much  less  quantity  than  re- 
presented. The  arts  of  the  charlatan  are  ex- 
tensively practised  to  deceive  and  impose  on 
their  customers.  Many  farmers  are  fully  aware 
of  the  fact  that  they  need  something  to  enable 
them  to  raise  good  crops  and  renew  their  im- 
poverished lands,  and  that  in  purchasing,  they 
are  entirely  at  the  mercy  of  these  compounders 
of  m^^nures.  And  if  they  pay  a  dollar  for  what 
is  worth  only  fifty  cents,  it  is  simply  because 
they  cannot  help  themselves  in  getting  the  full 
value  of  their  money. 

The  men  who  water  milk,  sand  sugar,  or  sell 
shoddy  for  broad  cloth,  are  termed  swindlers, 
but  the  amount  of  their  sales  is  comparatively 
small ;  and  as  we  have  ready  means  of  detecting 
such  frauds,  the  sales  of  these  unprincipled 
dealers  become  beautifully  less. 

Not  so,  however,  with  manufacturers  of  fertil- 
izers ;  from  the  appearance  of  the  article  detection 
is  difficult.  Hence  some  of  the  manufacturers  of 
fertilizers  count  their  profits  by  the  hundreds  of 
thousands  of  dollars  yearly ;  and  we  shall  prove 
that  their  practices  are  equally,  or  more  culpable 
than  those  of  the  other  party.     When  a  manu- 


26  AMERICAN    MANURES. 

facturer  of  fertilizers  can  realize  as  profits  two 
hundred  thousand  dollars  in  a  year,  from  the 
investment  of  an  amount  of  capital  that  would 
barely  purchase  a  form  of  two  hundred  acres  in 
some  parts  of  the  country,  all  honest  men  must 
admit  that  a  great  wrong  is  perpetrated,  and 
that  it  cannot  be  too  soon  righted. 

One  of  the  objects  of  this  book  is  to  place 
this  business  fairly  before  the  public  ^  and,  as  it 
furnishes  the  raw  material  to  the  farmer,  this 
raw  material  should  have  no  advantage  over  the 
products  of  the  farm.  It  should  be  as  closely 
scrutinized  as  to  quality,  and  its  profits  reduced 
to  a  legitimate  standard.  The  farmer  will  be 
enabled,  by  the  information  here  given,  to  select 
the  maflure  that  will  yield  him  the  largest 
return  for  the  money  expended. 

This  of  course  will  place  the  dishonest  manu- 
facturer of  fertilizers  in  the  same  category  as  the 
dishonest  grocer,  and  he  will  soon  discover  from 
his  reduced  sales,  that  he  must  improve  his 
article  or  quit  the  business. 

The  farmer  can  see  at  a  glance  the  great 
value  of  the  information  here  given.  The  im- 
portation and  manufacture  of  fertilizers  have 
become  a  business  of  great  magnitude.  Not 
less  than  five  hundred  thousand  tons  of  prepared 
manures,  guanos,  bone-dust,  and  superphosphates 
of  lime,  are  annually  sold  in  this  country,  at  a 


INTRODUCTION.  27 

cost  of  about  twenty  five  millions  of  dollars  to 
the  farmer  and  planter. 

This  fact  shows  that  there  must  be  a  great 
demand  based  on  a  great  want  of  these  fertilizers. 
It  also  speaks  w^ell  for  the  enterprise  and  pro- 
gressive spirit  of  our  farmers,  that  they  are 
willing  to  invest  this  enormous  amount  of  money. 
We  shall  show  that  this  money  expended  does 
not  give  a  commensurate  return,  in  a  propor- 
tional increase  of  the  crops,  and  that  nearly  one 
half  of  it  goes  into  the  pockets  of  the  manu- 
facturers as  profits. 

But  under  present  circumstances,  how  is  the 
farmer  to  know,  at  the  time  of  making  his 
purchase  of  these  manures,  that  he  is  getting  a 
good  article,  and  the  large  amount  he  pays  is  a 
good  investment  of  his  money  ?  As  these  man- 
ures undergo  no  official  inspection,  he  must 
necessarily  buy  them  on  the  strength  of  their 
general  reputation  of  being  good,  and  the  high 
sounding  recommendations  of  the  manufacturers 
and  agents,  with  an  array  of  glowing  certificates 
from  farmers,  who  probably  did  not  receive  a 
tithe  of  the  benefit  they  should  have  received 
for  the  amount  of  money  expended. 

How  is  the  farmer  to  know  that  the  manure 

manufactured  this  year,  is  not  greatly  inferior  to 

what  was  made  the  year  before  ?     The  writers 

know  that  the  value  of  manures  of  the  same 
3 


28  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

manufacturers  varies  considerably  in  different 
seasons.  If  a  good  manure  is  made  one  year,  it 
establishes  a  reputation  that  enables  the  manu- 
facturer to  palm  off  an  inferior  article  the  next 
season.  The  farmer  has  no  means  of  judging 
the  quality  of  the  article  by  its  appearance,  and 
has  to  rely  on  the  honesty  of  the  manufacturer ; 
and  this  confidence,  on  his  part,  is  too  often 
abused.  He  finds,  too  late,  that  instead  of  being 
benefited  as  he  expected,  that  the  amount  paid  for 
the  manure  has  been  a  direct  tax  on  his  scanty 
produce,  involving  a  serious  loss  of  time,  labor 
and  capital. 

Our  agricultural  bureau  at  Washington  has 
failed  to  give  this  momentous  national  question 
that  attention  the  subject  deserves  and  requires^ 
as  any  one  who  reads  the  agricultural  reports 
must  admit.  An  ofiice  or  bureau  of  inspection 
for  these  manures  is  imperatively  demanded. 
Every  concentrated  manure,  fertilizer,  or  super- 
phosphate of  lime  should  be  analyzed  by  com- 
jpetent  and  honest  chemists,  and  their  processes 
made  known,  and  the  grade  of  the  article  fixed ; 
and  there  should  be  a  law  requiring  a  guaranteed 
analysis  to  be  attached  to  each  bag  or  barrel  of 
the  manure,  and  the  manufacturers  to  be  liable 
to  prosecution  if  their  manures  fall  short  of  the 
guaranteed  standard. 

This  is  a  matter  of  vital  importance,  not  only 


INTRODUCTION.  29 

to  the  practical  agriculturist^  but  to  the  people 
at  large.  Every  one  should  feel  an  interest  in 
the  productiveness  of  our  soils ;  as  all  are  con- 
sumers of  its  products,  therefore  all  are  pecunia- 
rily interested.  Moreover,  when  our  lands  fail 
in  their  natural  fertility,  the  loss  injures  com- 
merce, manufactures,  mechanical  arts,  and  para- 
lyzes all  new  enterprises. 

It  is  a  grave  mistake  to  suppose  that  farmers 
alone  are  interested  in  the  practical  results  of 
tillage.  They  have  no  more  than  a  common 
interest  in  maintaining  or  improving  the  natural 
fruitfulness  of  the  earth. 

Hence,  w^e  should  all  unite  in  endeavoring  to 
impart  knowledge  to  our  farmers.  If  an  increase 
of  knowledge  should  save  only  five  cents  on  the 
growing  of  a  bushel  of  wheat,  it  would  amount 
to  nearly  thirteen  millions  of  dollars  on  tlie 
average  wheat  crop  of  this  country.  Or,  if  the 
same  saving  could  be  effected  on  each  bushel  of 
our  average  corn  crop,  it  would  amount  to  near- 
ly fifty  millions  of  dollars. 

The  writers  have  endeavored  to  impart  what 
knowledge  they  possess,  trusting  and  believing 
that  their  efforts  will  be  appreciated  by  those 
for  whom  they  have  been  exerted — Our  Far- 
mers and  Planters. 

Feeling  confident  that  we  shall  have  the  pat- 
ronage of  the  farmer,  and  the  good  wishes  of  the 


30  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

community  at  large  {dislionest  manufacturers 
excepted)^  in  this  new  field  of  labor,  we  shall  leave 
nothing  undone  in  this,  and  in  future  editions,  to 
render  our  work  attractive,  useful  and  instruc- 
tive. 


CHAPTER    II. 

ELEMENTS   OF   MANURES   AND   PLANTS. 

Manures  are  substances  added  or  applied  to 
soils,  to  supply  the  wants  of  the  different  plants 
intended  for  the  use  of  man  and  animals.  That 
certain  vegetable,  animal  and  mineral  substances 
applied  to  soils  will  quicken  the  growth  of  vege- 
tation and  increase  the  amount  of  production, 
are  facts  that  have  been  known  from  the  earliest 
period.  But  the  nature  and  properties  of  these 
substances,  called  manures;  the  manner  in 
which  they  act;  the  best  modes  of  applying 
them ;  and  their  relative  value  and  durability, 
are  subjects  still  open  to  inquiry  and  discussion. 

Some  substances  used  as  manures  furnish 
directly  the  materials  that  enter  into  the  com- 
position of  plants ;  while  others  are  applied  to 
change  the  physical  character  of  the  soil,  and 
effect  chemical  changes  on  the  insoluble  materi- 
als that  it  may  contain,  rendering  them  soluble, 
and  in  such  condition  that  they  can  be  assimila- 
ted by  plants. 

As  every  part  of  man  and  animals  is  originally 

31 


32  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

derived  from  the  plants  that  have  served  them 
and  their  predecessors  as  food,  and  as  no  ele- 
ment can  produce  itself,  and  nothing  is  lost  or 
destroyed ;  it  is  evident  that  the  excrements  of 
animals  when  living,  together  with  their  bodies 
after  death,  will  contain  everything  that  is 
necessary  for  the  reproduction  of  plants. 

But  as  these  bodies  are  of  a  complex  nature, 
and  in  the  act  of  putrefaction  and  decay  resolve 
♦themselves  into  simpler  forms,  a  valuable  part 
passing  away  in  different  gases;  and  as  the 
greater  part  of  the  produce  of  the  land  is  con- 
sumed in  cities  and  towns,  where  the  excrements 
are  in  a  great  measure  allowed  to  go  to  waste, 
it  is  impossible  to  return  the  same  elements  in 
their  changed  form  to  the  soil  to  produce  other 
crops.  '  Consequently,  we  have  to  look  to  other 
sources  for  the  materials  to  make  good  this  loss 
and  preserve  the  fertility  of  the  land. 

There  is  no  deficiency  of  the  substances  re- 
quired for  the  growth  of  plants.  A  kind  Provi- 
dence has  economically  stored  them  for  our  use 
in  a  variety  of  forms.  Hence  the  importance  of 
a  knowledge  of  the  elements  of  manures ;  also 
where  to  procure  them,  and  how  to  prepare  and 
apply  them. 

THE  ELEMENTS. 

To  assist  the  farmer  in  obtaining  a  knowledge 
of  the  elements  entering  into  the  composition  of 


THE    ELEMENTS.  33 

cultivated  plants,  we  have   arranged  them  as 
follows : 

I.  Gaseous  Elements. — Oxygen,  Hydrogen, 
Nitrogen,  Chlorine. 

II.  Elements  combining  with  Oxygen  to  form 
Acids. — Silicon,  Carbon,  Phosphorus,  Sulphur. 

III.  Elements  combining  with  Oxygen  to 
form  Bases. — Calcium,  Magnesium,  Iron,  Potas- 
sium, Sodium. 

The  combinations  of  Potassium  and  Sodium 
are  termed  allcalies. 

The  elements  unite  in  definite  proportions, 
called  equivalents^  representing  the  smallest 
quantity  in  which  they  enter  into  comtfination, 
one  with  the  other.     The  equivalents  are,  for 


Oxygen 8 

Hydrogen 1 

Nitrogen 14 

Chlorine 85.5 

Silicon 14 

Carbon 6 


Phosphorus 31 

Sulphur 16 

Calcium 20 

Magnesium 12.2 

Iron 28 

Potassium 39 


Sodium 23 

To  render  the  above  intelligible,  we  give  a  few 
examples,  viz :  8  pounds  or  parts  of  oxygen 
unite  with  1  pound  or  part  of  hydrogen,  to  form 
9  pounds  or  parts  of  water.  Three  parts  of 
hydrogen  unite  with  14  parts  of  nitrogen,  to 
form  17  parts  of  ammonia;  and  16  parts  of  sul- 
phur unite  with  24  parts  of  oxygen,  to  form  40 
parts  of  anhydrous  sulphuric  acid. 


34  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

The  laws  that  govern. these  combinations  are 
arbitrary ;  any  excess  of  an  element  does  not 
affect  the  composition  of  the  resulting  com- 
pound. 

An  Element  contains  but  one  kind  of  matter, 
as  Oxygen,  Sulphur,  Calcium. 

A  Compound  is  the  union  of  two  or  more  ele- 
ments )  as  Water,  Sulphuric  Acid,  Oxide  of  Cal- 
cium. 

An  Oxide  is  a  combination  of  an  element  with 
oxygen ;  as  calcium  united  with  oxygen  is  called 
the  oxide  of  calcium,  or  quick  lime ;  or  sulphur 
united  with  oxygen  to  produce  sulphuric  acid, 
is  called  an  oxide  of  sulphur.  The  union  of 
oxygen  with  different  elements  produces  both 
acids  and  hases. 

A  Salt  is  the  union  of  an  acid  with  a  base,  the 
active  properties  of  the  acid  being  neutralized, 
and  the  compound  having  properties  different 
from  either;  as  lime  or  the  oxide  of  calcium 
unites  with  sulphuric  acid  to  form  the  sul|)hate 
of  lime,  or  land  plaster.  A  salt  may  also  be  pro- 
duced by  the  union  of  an  element  with  an  ele- 
ment ;  as  chlorine  uniting  with  sodium  to  form 
common  salt.  The  force  that  produces  the  com- 
binations of  dissimilar  bodies  is  termed  Chemical 
Affinity, 

Chemical  Affinity  may  be  defined  as  an 
attraction  exerted  at  insensible  distances  between 


GASEOUS   ELEMENTS.  35 

particles  of  matter  of  different  kinds,  the  result 
of  which  is  the  formation  of  new  particles 
possessed  of  qualities  different  from  those  of  their 
components;  as  quicklime  combines  with  sul- 
phuric acid,  to  form  gypsum  or  land  plaster. 

This  definition  will  show  the  difference  be- 
tween chemical  attraction  or  affinity,  and  the 
forces  of  gravitation  and  cohesion.  Gravitation 
is  exerted  at  all  distances  between  masses  of 
matter  without  regard  to  their  nature,  and  differs 
entirely  from  affinity. 

■  Cohesion  differs  less  widely  from  affinity,  since 
its  attraction  is  exerted  only  at  minute  distances. 
This  force,  however,  is  exerted  more  frequently, 
and  with  greater  energy  between  similar  particles 
of  matter,  than  between  particles  of  different 
kinds ;  and  the  operation  of  these  forces  is  not 
attended  with  any  material  alteration  in  the 
properties  of  matter. 

We  shall  now  proceed  to  the  consideration  of 
the  different  elements  found  in  plants,  in  the 
order  of  their  division. 

GASEOUS  ELEMENTS. 

Oxygen  was  discovered  by  Priestly,  in  1774. 
It  is  permanent,  colorless,  tasteless,  and  odorless, 
and  is  a  supjoorter  of  combustion;  any  combustible 
substance  burus  in  oxygen  with  increased  bril- 


36  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

liancy  and  rapidity.  Some  substances  unite 
with  oxygen  at  tlie  common  temperature,  as  is 
the  case  of  the  rusting  of  iron  when  moisture  is 
present.  Oxygen  unites  with  all  the  elements 
entering  into  the  composition  of  plants,  in  one 
or  several  proportions,  as  in  the  following  sub- 
stances, viz :  One  equivalent  of  calcium  unites 
with  one  equivalent  of  oxygen  to  form  oxide 
of  calcium,  commonly  called  quicklime;  one 
equivalent  of  sulphur  unites  with  three  equiva- 
lents of  oxygen  to  form  anhydrous  sulphuric  acid. 
One  equivalent  of  phosphorus  unites  with  five 
equivalents  of  oxygen  to  form  anhydrous  phos- 
phoric acid. 

Mechanically  mixed  with  nitrogen,  oxygen 
forms  about  21  per  cent,  by  volume  of  the 
atmosphere,  and  is  heavier  than  common  air  in 
the  proportion  of  11  to  10.  Much  more  than  one 
half  of  the  weight  of  plants  and  animals  is 
oxygen.  How  wonderful,  that  a  gas  should  by 
powerful  affinities  be  bound  up  in  such  vast 
stores  in  rocks  and  the  solid  mountains  of  the 
earth,  as  well  as  in  the  ocean,  pervading  all 
created  matter,  and  being  itself  the  essence  of 
life ;  and  that  without  it,  plants  and  animals 
would  speedily  die. 

Oxygen  serves  both  as  material  for  the 
production  of  matter  in  combining  with  other 
substances,    as  with   carbon,    forming   carbonic 


HYDROGEN.  37 

acid ;  and  also  as  a  direct  agent  of  the  chemical 
vital  processes  in  the  plant. 

The  sources  for  the  supply  of  oxygen  to  the 
plant,  are  carbonic  acid,  water,  and  nitric  acid. 
These  compounds  offer  to  plants  much  more 
oxygen  than  they  require,  in  consequence  of 
which  the  most  of  the  oxygen  is  again  restored 
to  the  atmosphere;  the  plant  retaining  the  carbon, 
a  portion  of  the  hydrogen,  and  the  nitrogen  of 
the  nitric  acid. 

The  amount  of  oxygen  exhaled  from  plants  is 
very  considerable ;  it  is,  and  must  be  equivalent 
to  the  quantity  required  for  the  purpose  of 
respiration,  combustion,  and  decay.  If  it  were 
not  so,  the  amount  of  this  vital  air  in  the 
atmosphere  would  either  be  increasing  or  dimin- 
ishing, either  cause  unfitting  it  for  the  purpose 
of  respiration. 

If  the  law  which  governs  the  liberation  of  this 
substance  were  but  slightly  changed,  an  extinc- 
tion of  all  plants  and  animals  would  follow. 
Increase  or  diminish  in  any  sensible  degree  the 
vital  air,  or  oxygen,  and  all  vitality  must  shortly 
cease. 

HYDROGEN. 

Hydrogen  was  discovered  by  Cavendish,  in 
1776.  It  is  one  of  the  most  diffused  bodies,  and  is 
transparent,  odorless,  tasteless,  and  inflammable. 


38  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

It  does  not  exist  in  nature,  in  the  free  or  un- 
combined  state,  nor  does  it  exist  so  abundantly 
as  oxygen.  It  forms  a  part  of  all  animals  and 
plants,  and  one-ninth  of  the  weight  of  water. 
At  the  same  temperature,  and  under  like  pressure, 
it  is  sixteen  times  lighter  than  oxygen,  and  nearly 
fourteen  and  a  half  times  lighter  than  common  air. 

This  gas  will  not  support  a  flame  or  combus- 
tion. But  although  hydrogen  does  not  exist  in 
nature  in  the  free  state,  it  is  being  continually 
formed  by  the  decomposition  of  water,  caused  by 
the  putrefaction  of  organic  bodies ;  this  liberated 
hydrogen  uniting  with  nitrogen,  carbon  or  sul- 
phur, forming  ammonia,  carburetted  and  sul- 
phuretted hydrogen.  It  is  generally  found  in 
plants,  in  excess  of  the  amount  required  to  form 
water,  showing  that  water  is  decomposed  in  the 
plant,  and  that  the  oxygen  is  expelled;  the 
hydrogen  being  possibly  retained  as  an  attractive 
element,  should  there  be  a  scarcity  of  moisture, 
to  again  combine  with  more  oxygen  and  form 
water. 

This  element  is  assimilated  by  plants  in 
ammonia  and  water;  these  sources  are  sufficient 
to  furnish  hydrogen. 

CARBURETTED  HYDROGEN. 

Carburetted  Hydrogen  is  found  in  large 
quantities  during  the  decay  of  vegetable  matter 


SULPHURETTED   HYDROGEN"  39 

in 'moist  places  or  in  stagnant  pools,  and  may 
often  be  seen  rising  in  bubbles  in  marshy  places. 
In  warm  weather,  and  when  vegetation  com- 
mences to  decay  in  the  fall  of  the  year,  the 
amount  formed  is  largely  increased.  It  is  called 
marsh  gas^  and  its  presence  is  the  direct  cause 
of  the  malaria  of  chills  and  fevers  or  the  ague. 
It  is  largely  generated  in  the  distillation  of  soft 
or  bituminous  coal,  and  when  mixed  with  atmos- 
pheric air,  is  the  much  dreaded  fire  dampy  the 
explosion  of  which  is  so  fatal  to  miners. 

This  gas  is  also  given  off  with  carbonic  acid 
during  the  fermentation  of  compost  heaps,  or 
any  large  deposits  of  vegetable  matter.  It  is 
present  in  all  soils  containing  much  decaying 
vegetable  matter,  and  is  a  source  of  carbon  and 
hydrogen  to  the  growing  plant;  but  to  effect  this 
a  decomposition  of  its  elements  must  be  effected. 

When  it  is  present  in  large  quantities,  it  is 
probable  that  it  is  just  as  poisonous  to  vegetable 
as  it  is  to  animal  life,  and  shows  insufficient 
oxidation  of  the  carbon. 

SULPHURETTED  HYDROGEN. 

Sulphuretted  Hydrogen  is  a  gaseous  com- 
pound of  sulphur  and  hydrogen,  and  may  be 
readily  detected  by  the  similiarity  of  its  odor  to 
rotten  eggs.     Water  absorbs  about  three  times 


40  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

its  volume  of  this  gas,  and  some  sulphur  springs 
contain  large  quantities  of  it.  It  is  colorless, 
inflammable,  and  when  breathed,  highly  poison- 
ous. Being  considerably  heavier  than  common 
air,  it  may  be  poured  into  cavities  and  holes,  and ' 
has  been  successfully  used  in  killing  vermin  and 
rats.  The  gas  is  produced  in  marshy  stagnant 
places,  and  in  fish  ponds,  where  vegetable  matter 
is  undergoing  decay  in  the  presence  of  the 
sulphates  of  the  metals  -in  solution,  as  the 
sulphate  of  iron,  gypsum  or  land  plaster;  and  in 
old  pasture  lands  it  may  be  frequently  detected, 
even  by  the  sense  of  smell,  around  the  roots  of 
the  sod.  As  in  the  egg,  so  in  other  decaying 
animal  matter,  especially  when  the  air  is  in  a 
manner  excluded,  this  gas  is  formed.  The 
presence  of  this  gas  is  detrimental  to  vegetable 
life ;  where  it  exists  in  considerable  quantity  it 
prevents  the  free  excess  of  oxygen,  without 
which  plants  as  well  as  animals  cannot  live. 
Plants  have  not  the  power  of  rejecting  poisonous 
substances  any  more  than  animals.  The  presence 
of  these  gases  in  the  soil  is  a  proof  that  it  is  un- 
fitted for  the  proper  and  luxuriant  growth  of 
plants,  and  that  an  imperfect  oxidation  of  the 
soil  exists,  that  cannot  too  soon  be  remedied  by 
cultivation  and  the  addition  of  active  manurial 
substances. 


NITROGEN.  41 

NITROGEN. 

Nitrogen  is  a  permanent  gas.  It  has  neither 
taste,  color  nor  smell,  and  is  destitute  of  active 
properties.  It  is  incombustible,  and  will  not 
support  combustion  or  respiration.  Its  most  im- 
portant function  is  to  dilute  the  oxygen  of  the 
atmosphere,,  which  contains  77  per  cent,  by 
weight,  or  79  per  cent,  by  volume  of  nitrogen. 

Nitrogen  does  not  enter  into  direct  combina- 
tion with  any  elements,  excepting  oxygen,  with 
which  it  may  be  made  to  unite  by  subjecting  the 
mixture  of  the  gases  to  a  succession  of  powerful 
electric  shocks.  The  union  of  nitrogen  witli 
oxygen  in  proper  proportions  produces  nitric 
acid,  consisting  of  one  equivalent  or  14  parts 
of  the  former,  with  5  equivalents  or  40  parts  of 
the  latter. 

Nitric  acid  in  small  quantity  is  produced  in 
the  atmosphere  during  thunderstorms  by  the 
same  agency,  and  is  absorbed  by  rains,  thus 
furnishing  a  limited  supply  of  this  element  to 
plants. 

As  before  stated,  14  parts  of  nitrogen  uniting 
with  3  parts  of  hydrogen,  form  ammonia;  this 
compound,  with  nitric  acid,  being  the  most  im- 
portant source  of  nitrogen  for  plants. 

Nitrogen  is  so  essential  to  the  growth  of 
plants,  that  no  matter  if  every  other  element 


42  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

was  present  in  excess,  without  it  they  could 
never  come  to  maturity. 

Since  nitrogen  is  so  plentifully  furnished  in 
the  atmosphere,  a  superficial  observer  would 
suppose  that  plants  would  never  suffer  from  a 
lack  of  this  substance.  The  closest  investiga- 
tions have  failed  to  show  that  they  can  assimilate 
nitrogen  in  its  pure  state  from  the  atmosphere ; 
on  the  contrary,  some  plants  discharge  the 
nitrogen  that  is  absorbed  by  the  roots.  On  the 
other  hand  it  has  been  directly  proved,  by  a 
large  amount  of  evidence,  that  it  enters  into 
their  roots,  either  as  ammonia  or  nitric  acid. 

There  are  various  opinions  as  to  the  relative 
value  of  ammonia  and  nitric  acid,  in  furnishing 
nitrogen  to  plants;  but  as  the  application  of 
either  substance  is  followed  by  direct  beneficial 
results,  it  may  be  inferred  that  they  are  nearly 
equally  valuable  in  proportion  to  the  amount  of 
nitrogen  contained  in  each,  although  it  is  very 
probable  that  ammonia  is  more  directly  available. 

Many  persons  suppose  that  the  atmosphere 
furnishes  a  sufficient  amount  of  this  substance 
for  the  wants  of  vegetation,  and  that  it  is 
brought  down  by  rains  and  dews  into  the  soil. 
That  ammonia  is  continually  being  formed  from 
decaying  animal  and  vegetable  matter,  and  that 
it  escapes  into  the  atmosphere,  we  will  admit; 
and  we  will  now  examine  how  far  this  supply 


NITROGEN.  43 

will  go  to  supply  the  wants  of  plants,  based  on 
the  experiments  of  distinguished  chemists. 

In  1855  and  1856,  Messrs.  Lawes  and  Gilbert, 
at  Rothamstead,  England,  collected  on  a  large  rain 
gauge  presenting  a  surface  of  j-^^-o  of  an  acre, 
the  entire  rain-fall  (with  dews,  etc.,  included),  for 
those  years.  Prof.  Way,  at  that  time  chemist 
to  the  Royal  Agricultural  Society  of  England, 
analyzed  the  waters,  and  found  that  the  total 
amount  of  ammonia  contained  in  them  was 
equal  to  71bs  in  1855,  and  9iVbs  in  1856,  for  an 
acre  of  surface.  These  amounts  were  yielded 
by  663,000  and  616,000  gallons  of  rain  w^ater 
respectively.  In  the  waters  collected  at  Inster- 
burg,  during  the  year  ending  March,  1865, 
Pincus  and  Roellig  obtained  6.38  lbs  of  ammonia 
per  acre.  Bretschneider  found  in  the  waters 
collected  at  Ida  Marienhuette,  from  April,  1865, 
to  April,  1866,  12ibs  for  an  acre  of  surface. 

One  hundred  pounds  of  wheat,  with  the  straw", 
require  two  and  a  half  per  cent,  of  nitrogen, 
equal  to  more  than  three  per  cent,  of  ammonia. 
The  reader  can  see  at  a  glance,  how  inadequate 
this  amount  of  ammonia  is  to  supply  an  ordinary 
crop  with  this  element;  25  bushels  of  wheat, 
with  the  straw,  will  require  45ibs  of  ammonia; 
so  that  if  the  plant  could  assimilate  all  the 
ammonia  of  the  rain  w^ater,  401bs  additional 
w^ould    have    to   be    added    or    applied    to    an 


44  AMERICAN    MANURES. 

acre.  These  facts  need  no  further  comment, 
and  conclusively  prove  the  necessity  of  adding 
ammonia  or  nitrogen,  in  some  form,  to  the  grow- 
ing plant,  to  su]3ply  this  element. 

CHLORINE. 

Chlorine  is  a  yellowish  green  liquefiable  gas, 
of  a  pungent,  suffocating  odor.  It  is  incom- 
bustible, but  supports  the  combustion  of  a  few 
bodies.  Chlorine  is  incapable  of  supporting 
respiration,  causing  instantaneous  death  when 
inhaled  pure;  when  diluted  with  atmospheric 
air,  and  breathed  in  small  quantities,  it  excites 
violent  coughing,  accompanied  by  an  oppressive 
choking  sensation,  sometimes  followed  by  spitting 
of  blood. 

Chlorine  is  abundantly  found  in  nature  in 
combination  with  sodium,  as  rock  salt ;  it  is  also 
found  in  sea-w^ater  and  marine  plants. 

The  reader  will  see,  by  referring  to  the  tables 
showing  the  Composition  of  Plants,  that  a  very 
small  amount  of  this  element  is  required  ;  and  as 
it  is  always  applied  to  the  soil  in  alkaline 
chlorides,  we  shall  review  this  element  more 
fully  under  the  head  of  Sodium. 

The  foregoing  brief  review  of  the  gases  that 
enter  into  the  composition  of  plants,  and  the 
compounds  they  form  with  other  elements, 
should  be  well  considered  and  understood  by  the 


SILICON.  45 

reader.  It  is  not  our  intention  to  write  a 
work  on  elementary  chemistry;  we  give  only 
such  general  chemical  fiicts  as  are  required  to  be 
known  by  the  farmer,  to  render  the  subsequent 
part  of  this  book  fully  intelligible. 

ELEMENTS  COMBINING  WITH  OXYGEN 
TO  FORM  ACIDS. 

Silicon  is  never  found  as  such  in  nature.  It 
was  discovered  by  Humphry  Davy,  in  1813.  It 
presents  the  appearance  of  a  brown  powder,  or 
of  scaly  crystals  resembling  graphite.  Silicon 
when  combined  with  oxygen  in  the  proportion 
of  53.34  of  the  hatter,  to  46.66  of  the  former, 
forms  an  acid  known  as  Silicic  Acid,  or  simply 
Silica.  This  acid  occurs  in  nature  both  free  and 
combined  :  free,  as  quartz,  flint  and  pure  Avhite 
sand ;  combined,  as  felspar,  serpentine,  etc.  The 
salts  of  silica  are  termed  silicates,  as  silicates 
of  potash,  lime  and  magnesia.  These  silicates 
chemically  combined  with  water  are  termed 
hydrated  silicates,  which  are  present  in  all  or 
nearly  all  soils,  and  render  a  most  valuable 
service  to  vegetation,  by  storing  up  soluble  plant- 
food,  and  dealing  it  out  when  required. 

Silica  is  either  crystallized  or  amorphous. 
When  crystallized,  it  forms  six-sided,  trans- 
parent, colorless  prisms,  known  as  rock  crystal ; 


46  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

when  amorphous,  it  is  white,  tasteless,  and  gritty, 
as  in  flint,  sand,  etc.  It  is  insoluble  in  water, 
and  in  acids,  hydrofluoric  excepted.  It  enters 
largely  into  the  composition  of  glass,  porcelain, 
etc.;  and  we  can  safely  say  that  the  former 
contains  over  half  its  weight  of  this  acid. 

Silica,  when  chemically  united  with  water, 
forms  a  transparent  jelly,  known  as  hydrated  or 
soluble  silica.  This  is  soluble  in  water  to  a 
certain  extent,  and  in  acids,  even  in  the  feeble 
carbonic.  From  it,  and  from  alkaline  silicates, 
plants  obtain  their  silica.  This  silica  is  prepared 
for  the  use  of  the  plant  by  natural  agencies, 
somewhat  in  the  following  manner.  Suppose 
w^e  allow  carbonic  acid  and  water  to  act  on  a 
combination  of  lime,  potash,  and  silica,  what 
takes  place?  The  lime  and  potash  combine 
with  the  carbonic  acid  to  form  carbonates  of 
these  substances,  and  the  silica  combining  with 
water  becomes  plant-food.  A  long  time,  how- 
ever, is  required  to  effect  this  change,  unless  the 
alkaline  silicate  is  in  a  very  minute  state  of 
division. 

The  part  taken  by  silica  in  natural  operations  is 
chiefly  a  mechanical  one,  for  which  its  abundance 
and  stability  under  ordinary  circumstances  pe- 
culiarly fits  it ;  for  it  is  found  to  constitute  the 
great  bulk  of  the  soil,  and  serves  as  a  support 
for  the  plant,  and  a  reservoir  for  its  food. 


SILICA.  47 

Soluble  silica  is  indispensable  to  the  growth 
of  grasses  and  the  straw  of  cereals,  and  forms 
the  shining  outer  sheath  of  these  plants.  It  is 
very  abundant  in  the  hard  external  coating  of 
the  "Dutch  rush  used  for  polishing. 

Silica  as  existing  hi  plants  is  united  with 
potash  and  soda,  and  may  be  said  to  be  insoluble 
in  water ;  but  by  the  fermentation  and  decay  of 
these  plants  carbonic  acid  is  liberated,  which 
uniting  with  the  potash  and  soda  forms  car- 
bonates of  these  substances,  and  the  silica  is 
separated  as  hydrated  or  soluble  silica,  to  supply 
the  wants  of  growing  plants. 

In  the  production  of  wheat  and  other  cereals, 
the  presence  of  this  element,  in  a  soluble  state,  is 
of  the  first  importance  in  building  up  the  straw 
or  stalk. 

If  the  reader  refers  to  the  tables  showing  the 
composition  of  the  straw  of  the  different  grain 
crops,  he  will  see  what  a  large  amount  of  this 
substance  is  required. 

As  the  amount  of  soluble  silica  in  the  most 
of  soils  is  comparatively  small,  every  farmer 
who  wishes  to  raise  wheat  or  other  grain,  will 
see  the  importance  of  returning  every  particle 
of  straw  to  his  land  to  furnish  this  substance. 

Another  source  of  soluble  silica  at  the  com- 
mand of  the  farmer  are  the  weeds  and  reeds 
that  grow  in  swampy  places  or  running  water, 


48  AMERICAN    MANURES. 

which  contain  a  considerable  amount  of  this 
substance.  It  also  enters  largely  into  the  com- 
position of  the  leaves  of  some  trees,  as  the  beech 
and  red  pine.  The  presence  of  decaying  veget- 
able matter  will  also  separate  silica  from  its 
insoluble  compounds,  as  before  stated.  This  is 
one  of  the  great  benefits  derived  from  green 
manuring.  The  lack  of  soluble  silica  vitally 
affects  the  growth  of  nearly  all  cultivated  plants ; 
but,  as  it  can  be  economically  manufactured  and 
applied  to  the  soil  as  silicate  of  soda,  and  also 
added  in  the  waste  products  of  previous  crops, 
the  farmer  has  full  supplies  at  command. 

CARBON. 

Carbon  was  discovered  by  Lavoisier  in  17S0. 
It  enters  largely  into  the  composition  of  plants. 
It  forms  the  bulk  of  mineral  coal,  charcoal,  lamp- 
black, black-lead,  and  is  exhibited  in  its  purest 
known  state  in  tlie  diamond.  All  these  sub- 
stances have  the  common  property  of  uniting 
wdth  oxygen  in  a  state  of  combustion,  and  then 
producing  carbonic  acid  gas. 

Carbonic  Acid  is  composed  of  one  equivalent 
of  carbon  combined  with  two  equivalents  of 
oxygen.  Its  salts  are  termed  carbonates.  That 
plants  ansimilato  this  gas,  and  that  it  is  the 
most  important   source  of  caribou   necessary   to 


CARBON.  49 

their  growth,  will  be  shown  under  the  head  of 
Humus  in  Soils.  Carbon  forms  from  forty  to 
fifty  per  cent,  by  weight  of  the  different 
cultivated  plants,  so  that  in  the  economy  of 
their  growth,  it  may  be  considered  one  of  the 
most  important  elements  of  their  composition. 
This  is  one  of  the  elements  the  farmer  need  not 
trouble  himself  in  applying  to  his  soil  as  a  manure, 
because  the  atmosphere  furnishes  an  abundant 
supply  free  of  cost.  The  fact  of  the  assimila- 
tion of  carbon  by  plants  from  the  atmosphere 
has  been  placed  beyond  doubt,  by  the  investiga- 
tions of  eminent  scientific  men,  from  the  time 
of  Priestley,  who  made  this  discovery  in  1771,  up 
to  the  present  time. 

The  former  must  not  infer  from  the  fiict  that 
the  atmosphere  furnishes  to  the  plant  all  the 
carbon  which  it  requires,  that  the  presence  of  a 
mould  of  humus,  or  partially  oxidized  organic 
matter,  is  not  necessary  in  a  soil.  Its  presence 
produces  beneficial  jphysical  effects,  that  tend 
directly  to  their  healthy  growth.  Its  capacity 
for  absorbing  fertilizing  gases  and  giving  them 
out  as  they  are  needed  by  plants,  also  its  power 
of  attracting  heat  and  retaining  moisture,  are 
advantages  obtained  by  the  presence  of  a  large 
amount  of  mould  in  the  soil,  which  are  not 
possessed  by  soils  composed  simply  of  sand,  no 
matter  how  fine  the  state  of  division  may  be,  or 


50  AMERICAN    MANURES. 

the    amount  of  fertilizing   elements   they  may 
contain 

PPIOSPHORUS. 

Phosphorus  as  commonly  met  with  is  yellow 
and  transparent;,  resembling  wax  in  consistency. 
Having  a  powerful  affinity  for  oxygen,  it  never 
occurs  free  in  nature.  It  is  spontaneously  in- 
flammable, and  for  this  reason  is  preserved  under 
water.  Phosphorus  was  originally  prepared  from 
urine  by  a  tedious  and  disagreeable  process ;  but 
Gahn,  a  Swedish  chemist,  having  discovered  that 
it  enters  largely  into  the  composition  of  bones,  it 
is  now  prepared  from  this  class  of  bodies.  When 
burnt  in  air  or  oxygen,  it  is  converted  into  snow- 
like flocks,  which  are  called  aaJiydrous  phos- 
phoric acid. 

Phosphoric  Acid  contains,  in  100  parts,  phos- 
phorus 43.66,  oxygen  56.34.  This  acid  has  a 
great  affinity  for  water,  and  by  exposure  to  a 
moist  atmosphere  is  converted  into  lujdrated 
phosphoric  acid.  There  are  several  hydrates  of 
this  acid;  but  only  one  of  these  enters  into  the 
composition  of  manures,  viz  :  tri-basic  phosphoric 
acid.  A  tri-basic  acid  is  one  that  requires  three 
equivalents  of  the  same  or  of  different  bases  to 
form  a  salt;  for  example : 

Bone-Phosphate  of  Lime,  known  as  Basic 
Piiosphate  of  Lime,  is  composed  of  one  equivalent 


PHOSPHORUS.  51 

of  phosphoric  acid  and  three  equivalents  of  lime, 
and  contains,  in  100  parts,  phosphoric  acid  45.81, 
lime  54.19.  This  is  the  state  in  which  this  salt 
is  naturally  found  in  bones,  coprolites,  phos- 
phorite, apatite,  etc. 

Neutral  Phosphate  of  Lime  contains  two 
equivalents  of  lime,  one  of  water,  and  one  of 
phosphoric  acid;  in  100  parts,  phosphoric  acid 
52.20,  lime  41.18,  water  6.62. 

Superphosphate  of  Lime,  termxcd  also  acid 
and  bi-phosphate  of  lime,  contains  one  equiva- 
lent of  phosphoric  acid,  one  equivalent  of  lime, 
and  two  equivalents  of  water ;  containing,  in  100 
parts,  phosphoric  acid  60.69,  lime  23.93,  water 
15.38.  If  we  remove  from  bone-phosphate  of 
lime  the  three  equivalents  of  its  base,  and  re- 
place them  with  water,  we  obtain  tri-basic  phos- 
phoric acid,  usually  in  the  form  of  a  colorless, 
syrupy  liquid,  very  acid  to  the  taste.  Again, 
if  we  remove  from  bone-phosphate  of  lime  but 
tiDo  equivalents  of  lime,  and  replace  them  with 
w\ater,  we  obtain  snperpliosphate  of  lime.  This 
change,  in  either  case,  can  be  effected  by  sul- 
phuric acid.  This  acid,  having  a  greater  affinity 
for  the  lime  than  phosphoric  acid  has,  unites 
with  the  lime,  forming  gypsum  or  land  plaster. 
Superphosphate  of  lime  forms  white  scales, 
which  are  very  soluble  in  Avater,  imparting  to  it 
an  acid  taste. 


52  ^  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

On  the  subject  of  the  action  of  superphosphate 
of  lime  in  soils,  and  its  relative  value  compared 
with  insoluble  phosphoric  acid,  as  contained  in 
bone-dust,  coprohtes  or  mineral  guano,  we  can- 
not do  better  than  give  an  extract  from  Ronna  s 
exhaustive  report  on  that  subject,  as  follows : 

"  What  takes  place,  in  fact,  when  super- 
phosphates are  presented  to  the  soil  ?  Coming 
into  contact  with  the  alkalies,  or  the  earthy 
alkaline  bases,  the  phosphoric  acid  in  excess 
combines  with  them,  and  phosphate  of  lime  is 
precipitated  in  a  gelatinous  condition,  this  being 
the  one  in  which  a  sparingly  soluble  substance 
enters  more  freely  into  solution.  Gelatinous 
phosphate  of  lime  dissolves  readily  even  in  the 
feeble  carbonic  acid.  When  it  presents  itself, 
however,  in  the  form  of  coprolites,  solution  is 
effected  with  the  greatest  difficulty.  From  this 
it  may  be  seen,  how  little  profitable  it  is,  to  use 
powdered  coprolites,  otherwise  than  upon  new 
clearings  and  first  ploughings,  or  upon  soils  in 
wdiich  probably  free  acids  can  act  upon  them,  so 
that  they  may  then  be  able  to  yield  to  vegeta- 
tion by  degrees  a  small  quantity  of  phosphoric 
acid.  Such  coprolytic  powder  does  not  satisfy 
the  demands  of  an  advanced  and  progressive 
agriculture,  that  is,  immediate  results,  but  only 
effects,  for  which  one  is  compelled  to  wait  ten, 
yea,  twenty  years. 


ronna's  report.  53 

^^  Woehler  and  Voelcker  have  made  some  very 
interesting  experiments  on  the  solubility  of  phos- 
phates in  their  dry,  moist,  and  gelatinous  state, 
on  the  solubility  of  bone-meal,  of  boiled  bone, 
of  glue  refuse,  of  guano,  of  coprolites,  of  phos-^ 
phorite,  and  of  apatite,  all  of  which  prove  the 
beneficial  effect  which  the  mechanical  condition 
of  phosphates  exercises  upon   their  solubility. 
Thus  precipitated   phosphate   of  lime,   slightly 
moistened    and    allowed    to  remain    in   contact 
with  water  for  a  week,  lost  1.10  gramme,  while 
Suffolk   coprolites    lost  but   0.09   granmie,   and 
Cambridge  coprolites,  0.08  gramme.    The  amount 
of  water  used  in  either  case  was  100  litres.     In 
a  solution  of  ammoniacal  salts,  in  the  proportion 
of  1  to  100,  precipitated  phosphate  of  lime  lost 
4.80  grammes,  Suffolk  coprolites,  0.24  gramme, 
and    Cambridge    coprolites,  0.33    gramme.      A 
solution  containing  1  per  cent,  of  carbonate  of 
ammonia,  dissolved  of  precipitated  phosphate  of 
lime  2.48  grammes,  of  coprolites  0.36  gramme. 
Precipitated    phosphate   of  lime    afforded    to  a 
solution,  containing  1  per  cent,  of  sea-salt,  0.97 
gramme;  coprolites  0.19  gramme. 

"  But  more  than  all  the  experiments  in  the 
laboratory,  those  of  the  practical  agriculturist 
have  confirmed  the  necessity  of  phosphates 
rendered  soluble,  and  these  are  the  experiments 
of  twenty  years,  and  of  a  whole  country — which 


54  AMERICAN    MANURES. 

country  indisputcably  occupies  the  front  rank  in 
regard  to  agricultural  productions. 

"  As  superphosphate  of  lime  may  be  viewed  as 
phosphate  of  lime  dissolved  in  phosphoric  acid, 
the  former  (phosphate  of  lime),  as  soon  as  the 
free  acid  is  neutralized,  is  rendered  insoluble  or 
difficultly  soluble  in  water,  and  is  precipitated. 
Therefore,  one  of  the  objections  made,  viz.,  that, 
when  superphosphate  of  lime  is  applied  to  cer- 
tain soils,  the  soluble  phosphate  is  lost  by  rain, 
is  unfounded.  From  very  careful  experiments 
of  Dr.  Voelcker  on  the  transformation  of  soluble 
phosphates  in  contact  with  five  different  soils, 
which  were  first  carefully  analyzed,  it  is  evident, 
that  marly  or  chalky  soils  absorb  the  soluble 
phosphate  more  readily,  that  is,  render  it  more 
quickly  insoluble,  than  clayey  or  sandy  soils. 
In  the  former  soils,  it  appears  that  lime  is  the 
only  operating  force  in  this  transformation. 
However  quick  absorption  may  take  place,  it  is 
never  instantaneous ;  for  in  soils  containing  an 
excess  of  lime,  from  24  to  48  hours  are  required. 

"  As  no  acid  combination  can  enter  the  plant 
without  damaging  it,  and  as  superphosphates 
have  never  proven  themselves  injurious  to  plants, 
it  follows  herefrom,  that  phosphoric  acid,  wdiich 
cannot  exist  in  soils  in  a  free  state,  is  there 
neutralized,  and  that,  in  consequence,  the  solu- 
ble   phosphate    is    converted    into   insoluble    or 


ACTION   OF    SUPERPHOSPHATES.  55 

sparingly  soluble  phosphate,  regardless  of  the 
nature  of  the  soil.  It  is  an  unfounded  idea, 
that  plants  in  the  first  stages  of  their  growth 
are  nourished  by  the  soluble  phosphate,  and, 
during  maturity,  strengthened  by  the  insoluble. 
It  would  therefore  be  foolish,  to  say  the  least, 
to  prepare  a  superphosphate  containing  both 
soluble  and  insoluble  23hosphoric  acid.  Exper- 
ience has  proved  to  satisfection,  that,  of  two 
manures  containing  the  same  total  amount  of 
phosphoric  acid,  the  one  with  the  largest  amount 
of  soluble  phosphate,  other  circumstances  being 
equal,  is  the  most  effective. 

"  It  is  therefore  indispensably  necessary,  espe- 
cially in  manufactories  where  mineral  phos- 
phates are  worked,  that  the  insoluble  phosphate 
be  rendered  as  completely  soluble  as  possible. 
The  manufacturer  should  at  all  times  use  every 
effort  to  increase  the  amount  of  soluble  phos- 
phoric acid  in  his  superphosphate. 

"  If,  on  coming  in  contact  with  the  soil,  the 
soluble  phosphate  become  insoluble,  wliy,  say 
the  champions  of  pulverized  coprolites,  treat  at 
great  expense  mineral  matters  with  acid,  and 
increase  their  cost,  merely  for  the  sake  of  again 
obtaining  in  the  soil  insoluble  products?  An- 
swer :  It  is  not  the  purpose  of  the  acid  alone  to 
produce  soluble  phosphate.  The  mineral  first 
of  all   is  disintegrated   by  the   acid,   and  then 


56  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

IDartially  converted  into  soluble  pliosph-ate,  etc., 
which,  on  being  neutralized  in  the  soil  by  lime, 
or  by  sesquioxide  of  iron,  alumina,  etc.,  is  then 
brought  into  a  very  fine  state  of  division.  As 
the  neutralization  takes  place  in  the  soil  itself, 
the  phosphate  is  incorporated  with  the  same  in 
the  simplest  and  most  intimate  manner.  How- 
ever fine  the  bones  may  be  ground  by  mechan- 
ical operations,  their  tissue  is  not  destroyed  in 
them,  and  the  phosphates  within  them  are  in  a 
relatively  raw  condition.  As  to  coprolites,  even 
converted  into  powder  ever  so  fine,  they  cannot 
have  any  effect  on  the  soil,  unless  it  contains 
free  acids.  Precipitated  phosphates  have  not 
only  a  larger  volume  than  those  merely  pulver- 
ized, but  they  are  also,  as  we  have  proved,  more 
freely  soluble  in  water  than  mineral  phosphates. 
Even  if  their  elementary  composition  be  the 
same,  the  finely  divided  condition  of  the  precipi- 
tated phosphate  presents  indisputable  advantages. 
The  precipitated  phosphate  is  dissolved  by  the 
most  dilute  acetic  acid,  while  it  has  little  action  on 
the  finest  bone-meal,  and  still  less  on  coprolites. 
^' The  secret,  therefore,  of  the  efficiency  of 
superphosphates  consists  in  the  fact,  that  the 
oluble  phosphates  of  the  superphosphate  are 
converted  in  the  soil  itself  into  an  insoluble  but 
very  finely  divided  product.  If  this  change  took 
place  before  the  dissemination  of  the  fertilizer,  the 


SULPHUR.  57 

purpose  of  the  same  would  be  but  imperfectly 
accomiDlished.  From  these  remarks  it  is  plain 
why  superphosphates  applied  in  a  liquid  state 
are  often  more  active  than  when  used  in  a  dry 
state.  In  fact,  the  solution  of  the  phosphate  is 
more  perfectly  disseminated,  and  enters  more 
quickly  into  the  most  useful  state  for  plant 
nourishing.  The  dry  acid  phosphate,  inasmuch 
as  it  quickly  becomes  insoluble  in  the  soil, 
remains,  on  the  contrary,  where  it  has  been 
strewn ;  it  may  be  in  excess  in  certain  places, 
and  be  wholly  wanting  in  others.  If  rain  docs 
not  disseminate  it  by  mechanical  means,  it  re- 
mains partially  without  producing  any  effect." 

SULPHUR. 

Sulphur,  commonly  called  Brimstone,  is  a  solid 
of  a  yellow  color,  brittle,  moderately  hard,  and 
devoid  of  taste  or  smell.  It  burns  in  oxygen  or 
air  with  a  blue  flame,  forming  sulplmrous  acid. 
It  is  this  that  has  the  smell  commonly  attributed 
to  sulphur.  It  occurs  in  nature  both  free  and 
combined.  As  free,  it  is  sublimed  from  the  earth 
in  some  parts  of  Italy.  It  also  flows  from  volca- 
noes. It  is  also  very  generally  disseminated  in 
nature,  combined  witli  iron,  lead,  copper,  etc.,  and 
in  many  soils,  as  in  iron  pyrites — a  combination 
of  iron  and  sulpliur.  Sulphur,  when  united  with 
oxygen  and  water  in  certain  proportions,  and 


58  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

under  certain  conditions,  produces  the  hydrated 
sulphuric  acid,  or  oil  of  vitriol. 

Sulphuric  Acid,  or  the  Oil  of  Vitriol  of  com- 
merce, technically  termed  66°  acid,  contains 
anhydrous  sulphuric  acid,  75  parts,  and  25  parts 
of  water,  in  100.  This  acid  is  extensively  used 
in  the  arts  and  manufactures,  and  in  the  pre- 
paration of  superphosphate  of  lime.  It  enters 
into  the  composition  of  all  cultivated  plants,  and 
is  usually  found  in  small  quantities  in  all  soils, 
forming  gypsum  or  land  plaster.  It  is  also 
found  in  some  mineral  waters.  If  needed  by 
soils,  the  cheapest  source  at  the  command  of  the 
farmer  is  m  gypsum  or  land  plaster;  every  100 
lbs.  of  which,  when  pure,  contain  46.51  lbs.  of 
sulphuric  acid. 

ELEMENTS  COMBINING  WITH  OXYGEN 
TO  FORM  BASES. 

Calcium  is  a  solid  of  a  light  golden  yellow 
color.  It  is  harder  than  lead,  and  very  malleable. 
It  oxidizes  slowly  in  air  at  the  ordinary  tempera- 
ture; but  when  heated  to  redness  it  fuses  and 
burns  with  a  very  brilliant  vfhite  light,  and  is 
converted  into  lime,  this  lime  being  an  oxide  of 
calcium.  This  oxide  occupies  nearly  the  same 
position  among  bases  as  sulphuric  acid  does 
among  acids,  and  is  used  in  almost  all  the  arts 
and  manufactures. 


CALCIUM.  59 

Oxide  of  Calcium,  or  Quicklime,  is  composed 
of  one  equivalent  or  20  parts  of  calcium,  com- 
bined with  one  equivalent  or  8  parts  of  oxygen. 

Carbonate  of  Lime,  or  Limestone,  is  composed 
of  oxide  of  calcium,  combined  with  carbonic 
acid.  When  pure,  every  100  lbs.  of  limestone 
contain  44  lbs.  of  carbonic  acid,  and  56  of 
oxide  of  calcium;  so  that  one  ton  of  pure 
limestone  contains  11  j  cwt.  of  oxide  of  calcium, 
or  when  burnt  an  equal  amount  of  quicklime. 
Limestones  generally  contain  a  sensible  quantity 
of  mineral  matter,  as  silica,  magnesia,  alumina, 
and  oxide  of  iron,  wdth  traces  of  phosphoric  acid, 
and  sometimes  potash  and  organic  matter.  This 
foreign  matter,  in  the  best  quality  of  limestones, 
does  not  often  exceed  five  pet  cent.  When  lime- 
stones are  burnt,  the  carbonic  acid  is  expelled, 
and  the  lime  is  left  in  the  caustic  state,  as  quick- 
lime. When  water  is  applied  to  quicklime 
great  heat  is  developed,  the  lime  swells  and 
cracks,  and  finally  falls  to  a  fine  bulky  white 
powder.  When  quicklime  is  left  in  the  open 
air,  it  gradually  absorbs  water  from  tlie  atmos- 
phere, and  finally  falls  into  a  fine  powder.  In 
rich  lime  the  increase  of  bulk  by  slaking  may 
be  3  to  3  i  times. 

Quicklime  on  combination  with  water  is  con- 
verted into  hydrate  of  lime.  This  hydrate 
consists  of  75.68  lbs.  of  lime,  and  24.32  lbs.  of 


60  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

water  chemically  combined;  hence  75.68 lbs.  of 
quicklime,  and  24.32  lbs.  of  water  will  produce 
100  lbs.  of  hydrated  or  slaked  lime.  Quicklime 
has  a  great  tendency  to  reabsorb  carbonic  acid, 
and,  if  spread  on  the  soil  and  there  slaked 
by  absorbing  moisture  from  the  atmosphere, 
more  than  half  of  it  would  be  changed  back  into 
limestone.  Hence,  lime  should  be  slaked  in 
large  heaps,  and  would  be  still  better  preserved 
if  these  heaps  were  covered  with  sods.  Lime 
can  be  applied  to  the  soil,  either  in  its  natural 
state,  as  in  limestone,  or  as  burnt  lime,  or  as 
hydrated  or  slaked  lime,  with  beneficial  results. 
Marls  are  very  rich  in  carbonate  of  lime,  and 
some  of  the  best  varieties  contain  from  50  to  75 
per  cent,  of  it.  By  appropriate  machinery  lime- 
stone could  be  reduced  to  a  fine  powder  more 
cheaply  than  by  burning,  where  fuel  is  scarce 
and  dear.  Nevertheless,  burnt  lime  is  far 
superior  to  powdered  limestone  or  marl  for  the 
purpose  of  agriculture ;  one  of  the  reasons  being 
that  the  slaking  of  lime  reduces  it  to  an  im- 
palpable powder,  much  finer  than  can  be  effected 
by  the  most  perfect  machinery.  This  extreme 
fineness  of  division  diffuses  it  more  uniformly 
through  the  soil,  and  makes  it  more  readily 
soluble  in  water;  1000 lbs.  of  water  will  hold 
1  lb.  of  slaked  lime  in  solution:  hence,  if  the 
annual   rain-fall  on  an  acre  of  land  be  seven 


PROPERTIES   OF    LIME.  61 

million  pounds,  seven  thousand  pounds  of  hydrate 
)f  lime  would  be  made  soluble  for  the  use  of 
plants,  if  that  amount  were  present. 

Burnt  lime  is  more  beneficial  tlian  the  car- 
bonate, because  it  more  readily  neutralizes  the 
acids  contained  in  the  soil,  and  causes  the  de- 
composition of  the  vegetable  matter  therein. 
This  change  is  effected  as  follows  :  Most  soils 
contain  a  considerable  amount  of  organic  or 
vegetable  matter,  surrounded  by  and  saturated 
with  an  atmosphere  of  carbonic  acid,  which 
prevents  free  access  of  oxygen,  the  free  access 
of  which  is  absolutely  necessary  to  the  decom- 
position of  this  organic  and  vegetable  matter 
Now,  if  burnt  lime  be  intimately  mixed  with  the 
soil,  it  absorbs  this  carbonic  acid,  and  oxygen 
takes  its  place,  and  decomposition  of  this  matter 
is  the  result.  The  lime,  after  indirectly  pro- 
ducing this  result,  answers  all  tlie  useful  pur- 
poses of  carbonate  of  lime  in  the  form  of  ground 
limestone,  and  as  it  is  found  in  marl ;  hence  its 
greater  value,  independentof  other  considerations. 

The  office  of  lime  in  the  liberation  of  nitrogen, 
as  ammonia,  from  organic  substances,  is  another 
valuable  property.  As  nitrogen  is  an  element 
necessary  to  the  healthy  growth  of  grains  and 
plants  used  for  food,  its  value  herein  is  apparent^ 

Lime  has  also  a  beneficial  effect  on  the 
inorganic  or  mineral    matter   in  soils.     Should 


C2  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

iron  be  present,  as  iron  pyrites,  a  compound  of 
iron  and  sulphur ;  the  lime,  by  absorbing  carbonic 
acid  and  giving  free  access  to  the  oxygen  of  the 
atmosphere,  causes  a  rapid  decomposition  of  this 
compound  into  peroxide,  or  rust  of  iron,  and  sul- 
phuric acid.  This  acid  at  once  unites  with  the 
lime  and  forms  land  plaster  or  gypsum  in  the 
soil. 

The  great  source  of  potash  and  soda  in  soils 
is  from  the  disintegration  of  rocks,  such  as  fel- 
spar and  granite.  No  matter  how  hue  these 
rocks  may  be  reduced,  their  valuable  elements 
are  scarcely  at  all  soluble  in  water  w^ithout 
previous  chemical  action.  In  these  rocks,  known 
to  contain  much  potash  and  soda,  there  must  be 
a  chemical  decomposition  before  the  potash  and 
soda  can  be  available  to  plants.  These  silicates 
are  slowdy  decomposed  by  the  action  of  caa:bonic 
acid,  but  the  action  is  much  more  rapid  in  the 
presence  of  lime ;  hence  its  great  value  for  this 
purpose. 

Another  valuable  property  of  lime  is,  that, 
in  the  presence  of  decaying  organic  matter,  it 
will  decompose  common  salt,  forming  carbonate 
of  soda,  and  chloride  of  calcium ;  the  latter  being 
the  most  soluble  form  in  which  lime  can  be  pre- 
sented to  plants. 

The  prominent  chemical  effects  of  lime  in  the 
soil  being  stated,  w^e  proceed  to  notice  its  physi- 


PROPERTIES   OF   LIME.  63 

Gal  effects,  which  are  no  less  valuable  and  strik- 
ing. It  gives  lightness  and  friability  to  heavy 
clay  soils,  thus  facilitating  the  circulation  of 
moisture,  air  and  heat,  as  well  as  enabling  the 
delicate  roots  to  penetrate  readily  in  all  direc- 
tions. It  also  gives  sufficient  compactness  to 
loose,  sandy  soils,  and  corrects  the  leaching  and 
washing  out  of  the  valuable  fertilizing  elements 
they  contain. 

The  kind  of  spontaneous  vegetation  upon  soils 
is  a  good  indicator  as  to  whether  lime  is  needed, 
or  may  be  used  to  advantage.  In  soils  where 
sorrel,  or  the  chestnut,  and  pine  tree  grow  spon- 
taneously, application  of  lime  is  useful,  and  such 
soils  can  seldom  be  cultivated  profitably  without 
it. 

In  relation  to  the  application  of  lime,  we 
would  say,  that  it  should  at  all  times  be  kept  as 
near  the  surface  as  possible,  because  its  benefi- 
cial effects  are  greater  in  the  presence  of  atmos- 
pheric air,  and  moisture.  If  placed  too  deep  in 
the  soil,  these  effects  would  be  much  less.  The 
practice  of  spreading  lime  before  the  land  is 
plowed,  is  not  a  good  one,  and  ought  to  be  dis- 
continued. A  better  method  is  to  apply  it  after 
the  land  is  plowed,  and  previous  to  harrowing ; 
this  places  it  near  the  surface,  and  conforms  to 
the  conditions  necessary  to  its  maximum  useful 
action  on  decaying  vegetable  matter,  viz.,  free 


64  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

access  of  oxygen,  light  and  heat.  As  the  hy- 
drate of  lime  is  soluble  in  rain  water,  if  placed 
near  the  surface,  it  will  gradually  permeate  all 
parts  of  the  soil,  and  perform  all  its  useful  func- 
tions beneath  the  surface,  in  the  fixing  and  neu- 
tralizing of  organic  acids. 

There  are  various  opinions  among  farmers,  as 
to  whether  it  is  more  profitable  to  apply  lime  in 
large  quantities  at  rare  intervals,  or  in  small 
amount  yearly.  There  is  an  old  saying  that, 
"Lime  enriches  the  fathers,  but  impoverishes 
the  sons."  This  may  in  some  cases  be  true. 
Lime  is  a  great  stimulant  to  the  soil,  as  already 
shown,  and  if  the  amount  added  is  too  great  for 
the  amount  of  organic  matter  present^  or  the 
actual  wants  of  the  crops  grown,  there  will  be  a 
waste  of  those  valuable  gases  liberated  from  the 
decaying  organic  matter,  and  the  store  of  this 
organic  matter  contained  in  the  soil  will  be  pre- 
maturely exhausted.  The  amount  of  lime  added 
to  an  acre  should  not  be  less  than  forty  or  fifty 
bushels,  and  in  cases  where  the  physical  con- 
dition of  the  soil  requires  changing,  as  in  heavy 
clay  soils,  or  those  that  contain  a  large  amount 
of  organic  matter,  from  one  hundred  and  fifty 
to  two  hundred  bushels  may  be  applied  with 
advantage.  The  judgment  of  the  farmer, 
aided  by  experience,  is  his  best  guide  in  this 
matter. 


SULPHATE   OF   LIME.  65 

SULPHATE  OF  LIME. 

Sulphate  of  Lime,  or  Gypsum,  is  extensively 
applied  to  the  soil  as  a  manure;  every  100 
lbs.  contain  46.51  lbs.  of  sulphuric  acid,  32.56 
lbs.  of  lime,  and  20.93  lbs.  of  chemically  com- 
bined water.  The  value  of  gypsum  as  a 
manure  has  been  erroneously  attributed  to  its 
absorbent  properties  in  attracting  and  retaining 
moisture.  Extended  experiments  have  proved 
that  it  is  almost  destitute  of  any  absorbing 
power;  100  parts  of  gypsum  will  absorb  only  1 
part  of  water  in  12  hours,  while  loamy  clay  ab- 
sorbs 25  parts,  and  ordinary  soil  16  parts.  These 
experiments  were  extended  to  72  hours,  but  the 
gypsum  absorbed  no  moisture  after  the  first  12, 
which  demonstrated  that  1  part  to  100  is  the 
limit  of  its  absorbent  power ;  while  loamy  clay 
and  ordinary  soil  absorbed  in  that  time  35  and 
23  parts,  respectively.  Professor  Schuebler  per- 
tinently remarks,  when  speaking  of  this  fact : — 
"  Thus  theories  which  are  written  down,  often 
fall  to  nothing  when  tested  by  experiment." 

The  beneficial  action  of  gypsum  must  be  traced 
to  some  other  cause.  As  it  is  composed  of  lime 
and  sulphuric  acid,  the  benefits  resulting  from 
its  application  must  be  due  to  one  or  both  of 
these  substances.  Kecent  experiments  of  distin- 
guished chemists,  seem  to  prove  that  the  action 


66  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

of  gypsum  is  not  due  to  its  lime^  except  in  a 
slight  degree. 

One  great  benefit  derived  from  the  use  of  gyp- 
sum, is  in  fixing  the  ammonia  contained  in  the 
oil  and  the  atmosphere.  When  gypsum  and 
carbonate  of  ammonia  are  brought  into  contact, 
under  certain  conditions,  double  decomposition 
takes  place,  resulting  in  the  formation  of  sul- 
phate of  ammonia,  and  carbonate  of  lime.  These 
facts  prove  that  the  benefits  derived  from  the 
application  of  gypsum  are  principally  due  to  its 
sulphuric  acid,  which  we  have  already  treated 
under  that  head. 

If  lime  is  the  substance  needed,  it  can  be  ap- 
plied more  cheaply  as  quicklime.  The  applica- 
tion of  gypsum  in  small  or  large  quantities  is 
often  attended  with  equally  beneficial  results. 
This  can  be  explained  by  the  fact  that  it  requires 
from  four  to  five  hundred  pounds  of  water  to 
bring  one  pound  of  plaster  into  solution;  hence 
only  a  small  quantity  of  it  can  become  available 
in  a  season,  and  only  that  amount  need  be  ap- 
plied. 

MAGNESIUM. 

Magnesium  is  a  white,  malleable  solid,  resem- 
bling silver.  It  is  not  altered  by  dry  air,  at  the 
ordinary  temperature,  bat  is  tarnished  when  ex- 
i:)0sed  to  moisture.     When  heated  to  dull  red- 


MAGNESIUM.  67 

ness  in  atmospheric  air  or  oxygen^  it  burns  with 
a  vivid  light^  and  is  converted  into  magnesia^  or 
the  oxide  of  magnesium. 

Magnesia  is  the  only  oxide  formed  by  magne- 
sium; it  contains  in  100  lbs.,  60.4  lbs.  of  magne- 
sium,  and  39.6  ft)s.  of  oxygen.  Its  action  on  soils 
is  somewhat  similar  to  that  of  lime.  It  is  uni- 
formly present  in  variable  quantities,  in  almost 
all  limestones,  and  when  they  contain  a  large 
amount,  they  are  called  magnesian  limestones ; 
some  varieties  contain  over  fifty  per  cent,  of  this 
substance. 

Should  soils  need  magnesia,  and  not  conveni- 
ently applicable  in  combination  with  lime  as 
magnesia  limestone,  Epsom  salts,  or  sulphate 
of  magnesia,  can  be  substituted ;  and  many  far- 
mers have  found  it  profitable  to  apply  magnesia 
in  this  form.  A  crop  of  twenty-five  bushels  of 
wheat,  with  the  straw,  would  require  about  lllbs. 
of  magnesia,  or  63  lbs.  of  Epsom  salts.  Little 
more  need  be  said  about  this  element,  and  as  it 
'  is  found  in  nearly  all  soils,  it  seldom  requires  to 
be  added  as  a  fertilizer.  It  has  been  noticed  by 
farmers,  that  lime  which  contains  a  notable 
amount  of  this  substance,  has  a  more  favorable 
effect  on  a  wheat  crop  than  lime  containing  but 
little  of  it.  Nevertheless,  lime  that  contains  a 
very  large  quantity  of  magnesia  may  be  injuri- 
ous if  the  soil  already  contains  a  sufficient  quan- 


68  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

tity ;  because  magnesia,  in  its  caustic  state,  does 
not  absorb  carbonic  acid  nearly  so  readily  as  burnt 
lime,  but  remains  in  the  soil  in  this  state  for  a 
much  longer  period ;  besides,  it  will  harden  into 
a  cement  beneath  the  surface,  and  lessen  the 
friability  and  porosity  of  the  soil,  and  interfere 
with  the  growth  of  the  rootlets. 

Magnesia  in  large  quantity  might  be  applied 
to  the  soil  in  the  form  of  ground  magnesian 
limestone ;  the  magnesia  in  such  state  would  be 
gradually  liberated  by  the  acids  of  the  soil,  and 
rendered  available  for  the  wants  of  plants  as  it 
is  needed. 

IRON. 

Iron  is  a  solid  that  is  most  widely  distributed. 
There  is  scarcely  a  rock  or  soil,  plant  or  mineral, 
but  contains  traces  of  it,  and  it  scarcely  ever  be- 
comes necessary  to  employ  it  as  a  manure.  Iron 
unites  with  oxygen  in  two  proportions,  forming 
the  protoxide  and  peroxide  of  iron.  These  com- 
binations are  gradually  effected  in  a  moist  at- 
mosphere. 

Protoxide  of  Iron,  when  pure,  is  presented  in 
the  form  of  a  black  powder.  The  scale  falling 
from  heated  iron  is  largely  composed  of  it.  Its 
presence  in  a  large  amount  in  a  soil  is  very  inju- 
rious to  growing  vegetation.     Protoxide  of  iron  is 


IRON.  69 

one  equivalent  of  iron  combined  with  one  equiva- 
lent of  oxygen.  ' 

Peroxide  of  Iron,  or  red  rust,  is  composed  of 
two  equivalents  of  iron  combined  with  three 
equivalents  of  oxygen,  and  is  technically  called 
"  sesquioxide  of  iron."  The  presence  of  oxidiz- 
ing iron  in  a  soil  liberates  free  hydrogen,  which, 
uniting  with  the  nitrogen  contained  in  the  soil, 
forms  ammonia.  As  the  rust  of  iron  has  slight 
acid  properties,  it  has  an  affinity  for  ammonia, 
and  fixes  and  retains  this  valuable  substance  in 
a  soluble  form  in  the  soil.  Quite  probably  the 
injurious  effect  of  the  presence  of  a  large  amount 
of  iron  in  any  cultivated  soil,  is  due  to  its  attrac- 
tion of  oxygen,  thus  interfering  with  the  oxida- 
tion of  organic  substances  in  the  soil.  Such 
soils  should  be  frequently  cultivated,  and  the 
particles  pulverized  as  fine  as  possible,  so  as  to 
expose  every  part  of  it  to  the  action  of  the  oxy- 
gen of  the  atmosphere,  which  facilitates  the  for- 
mation of  the  peroxide  or  red  rust  of  iron  5  hence 
soils  containing  a  large  amount  of  iron  acquire 
a  deeper  red  color  under  cultivation.  Two  ad- 
vantages are  gained  by  cultivating  such  soils  : 
First,  The  hastening  of  the  formation  of  the  per- 
oxide of  iron  ;  Second,  The  benefits  derived  by 
the  action  of  this  oxide,  in  absorbing  certain 
kinds  of  plant-food  present  in   the   soil.     Thus 


70  AMERICAN    MANURES. 

forming  a  storehouse  of  these  substances  for  the 
future  use  of  plants. 

Sulphate  of  Iron  is  formed  in  soils  that  contain 
the  elements  of  sulphur  and  iron.  This  com- 
pound, when  present  in  large  amount,  is  injuri- 
ous to  vegetation.  And  there  are  few  soils  that 
do  not  contain  some  of  it ;  and  it  is  often  found 
in  low,  marshy  lands.  Soils  that  contain  it  in 
such  quantity  as  to  be  injurious,  are  very  much 
benefited  by  the  addition  of  lime,  or  marl ;  the 
lime  uniting  with  the  sulphuric  acid  of  the  sul- 
phate to  form  gypsum."  Iron  pyrites,  reduced 
to  a  fine  powder,  may  be  applied  in  small  quan- 
tity very  advantageously  to  some  soils,  when 
iron  and  sulphuric  acid  are  deficient,  and  the  soil 
abounds  in  carbonate  of  lime.  But,  should  the 
soil  be  deficient  in  lime,  it  should  be  applied  at 
the  same  time  either  as  quicklime  or  marl.  The 
application  of  gypsum  is  not  necessary  to  soils 
that  contain  iron  pyrites,  as  by  the  application 
of  lime  to  such  soils  it  would  be  formed  more 
cheaply. 

POTASSIUM. 

Potassium  is  a  solid ;  and  was  discovered  by 
Sir  H.  Davy,  in  1807.  It  is  silver-w^hite  in 
color,  and  lighter  in  weight  than  water.  If  a 
globule  of  potassium  be  dropped  upon  the  surface 
of  water,  it  instantly  takes  fire,  and  burns  with 


POTASH.  71 

a  beautiful  violet  colored  flame.  Potassium  oxi- 
dizes readily  in  the  air^  and  in  water;  in  the 
latter  case^  the  hydrogen  being  liberated,  and 
the  oxygen  of  the  water  uniting  with  the  potas- 
sium, forms  the  hydrate  of  jjotassa — the  caustic 
potash  of  commerce. 

Potash,  when  strictly  pure,  is  white  and  highly 
caustic,  destroying  both  animal  and  vegetable 
substances,  when  brought  in  contact  with  it.  It 
melts  at  a  red  heat,  and  assumes  a  crystalline 
appearance  upon  cooling.  It  requires  half  its 
weight  of  water  to  enter  into  solution,  which  is 
accompanied  with  the  evolution  of  considerable 
heat.  It  is  soluble  also  in  alcohol.  Solutions  of 
potash  are  highly  alkaline,  neutralizing  the 
strongest  acids. 

Potash  is  a  valuable  element  in  the  composi- 
tion of  plants.  The  ash  of  cultivated  plants  is 
generally  richer  in  this  substance  than  is  that  of 
those  growing  spontaneously.  Potash  is  found 
in  most  mineral  waters,  in  most  soils,  and  always 
in  plants.  Potash  is  often  found  in  nature,  in 
combination  with  nitric  acid,  forming  nitre,  or 
saltpetre,  which,  in  some  hot  countries,  forms  in- 
crustations on  the  surface.  Such  incrustations 
are  found  in  India,  Arabia,  and  South  America ; 
also  in  certain  caverns  in  Ceylon,  and  some  other 
parts  of  the  world.  Saltpetre,  as  found  in  these 
incrustations  or  deposits,  is  always  contaminated 


72  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

with  the  nitrate  of  lime,  magnesia,  or  soda,  or 
with  their  chlorides  and  sulphates. 

Potash,  as  before  stated,  exists  in  plants ;  in 
general,  combined  principally  with  organic 
acids.  This  potash  may  be  extracted  from  the 
ashes  of  wood  and  plants,  by  lixiviation  with 
lime  and  water.  If  the  water  of  the  caustic 
lye  thus  produced  be  evaporated,  and  the  resi- 
due be  calcined,  in  order  to  eliminate  any  organic 
matter  remaining,  crude  caustic  of  potash  is  pro- 
duced. This  crude  substance  contains  about  60 
per  cent,  of  potash,  mixed  with  various  impuri- 
ties, together  with  a  considerable  amount  of 
chloride  of  potassium  (muriate  of  potash),  and 
sulphate  and  silicate  of  potassa.  This  crude 
potash  is  largely  used  in  the  manufacture  of 
soap  and  glass ;  and,  until  the  recent  discovery 
of  extensive  deposits  of  crude  potash  salts  at 
Stassfurth,  in  Prussia,  was  the  source  of  most 
of  the  salts  of  potassa  used  in  the  arts  and  in 
medicine. 

The  value  of  wood  ashes  as  a  manure  was 
known  at  an  early  period.  The  old  Roman 
farmers  used  it,  and  practised  paring  and  burn- 
ing the  soil,  and  also  burnt  the  stubble  of  their 
wheat  fields,  in  order  to  enrich  the  succeeding 
crop ;  a  practice  which  was  also  prevalent 
among  the  ancient  Jews.  Cato  recommends  the 
burning  of  leaves  and  branches  of  trees,   and 


SODIUM.  *     73 

spreading  the  ashes  upon  the  land.  According 
to  Pliny,  the  ancient  Britons  used  to  burn  their 
wheat  straw  and  stubble,  and  scatter  the  ashes 
upon  the  land. 

On  the  farm,  no  substance  containing  potash 
should  be  allowed  to  go  to  waste.  Every  parti- 
cle of  wood  ashes,  leached  and  unleached,  should 
be  applied  to  the  soil,  together  with  the  ashes  of 
dead  branches  of  trees,  of  weeds  and  of  leaves, 
and  of  whatever  contains  potash.  By  this 
means  the  farmer  may  often  obtain  a  supply, 
more  cheaply  than  in  any  other  shape. 

SODIUM. 

Sodium  is  a  solid ;  and  was  discovered  by  Sir 
H.  Davy,  in  1807.  It  is  lustrous,  and  of  a  yel- 
lowish-white color,  more  nearly  resembling  silver 
than  potassium,  to  which,  in  other  physical  pro- 
perties, it  is  similar.  When  heated  in  air  or 
oxygen,  it  burns  with  a  bright  yellow  flame. 
Like  potassium,  it  is  lighter  than  water,  which 
it  decomposes  with  great  rapidity,  liberating  the 
hydrogen  and  combining  with  the  oxygen,  thus 
forming  soda,  which,  having  an  affinity  for 
water,  combines  with  a  certain  amaunt  of  i(, 
and  becomes  the  hydrate  of  soda — caustic  soda 
of  commerce.  Soda  was  originally  obtained  from 
the  ashes  of  marine  plants,  but  is  now  obtained 


74  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

in  large  quantities  by  the  decomposition  of  com- 
mon salt. 

Nitrate  of  Soda,  like  that  of  potash,  occurs  as 
an  incrustation  on  the  surface  of  the  earth,  in 
some  places,  especially  in  Chili  and  Peru,  where 
it  is  found  in  beds  of  considerable  thickness. 
Large  quantities  of  this  nitrate  are  used  as  ma- 
nure to  furnish  nitric  acid  and  soda  to  the  soil. 
But  as  most  soils  contain  soda  in  sufficient  quan- 
tity for  the  wants  of  vegetation,  the  chief  value 
of  this  product  is  due  to  the  nitric  acid  which  it 
contains,  and  which  is  a  source  of  nitrogen. 

Soda  enters  into  the  composition  of  plants, 
but  in  much  less  quantity  than  potash.  Some 
think  that  if  there  is  a  deficiency  of  potash,  soda 
may  wholly  take  its  place ;  but  this  opinion  has 
not,  so  far  as  we  are  informed,  been  verified  in 
practice.  The  cheapest  mode  of  furnishing  soda 
to  soils  is  in  the  form  of  common  salt. 

Common  Salt  occurs  abundantly  in  nature, 
both  in  the  earth  and  in  sea  water.  It  is  com- 
posed of  cldoriiie  and  sodium ;  100  parts,  when 
j)ure,  containing  60.68  of  chlorine,  and  39.32  of 
sodium.  Salt  has  been  applied  as  manure  in  all 
ages  and  countries ;  and  yet  there  is  no  substance 
used  as  manure  that  has  been  the  subject  of  so 
much  coi?troversy  among  practical  fiirmers,  some 
denying  that  it  exerts  any  beneficial  influence, 
while  others  ascribe  to  it  wonderful  manurial 


acTtion  of  salt.  75 

properties.  Common  salt  may  be  detected  in 
nearly  all  soils,  and  its  elements  are  found  in  the 
ash  of  almost  all  plants. 

The  action  of  Salt  in  small  quantity  in  soils, 
generally,  is  to  assist  in  decomposing  the  vegeta- 
ble and  animal  matter  present.  In  large  quan- 
tity it  is  very  injurious,  in  fact,  making  the  land 
completely  sterile.  Hence  the  practice  in  an- 
cient times  of  sowing  large  ^quantities  of  salt 
upon  the  land  surrounding  conquered  cities,  thus 
indicating  the  will  of  the  conqueror,  that  the 
land  should  be  desolate  and  the  conquered  city 
no  longer  habitable. 

Some  plants  and  trees  are  injured  by  salt 
much  more  readily  than  others.  When  applied 
in  excess  to  some  fruit  trees,  as  the  apple,  plum, 
cherry  and  apricot,  the  leaves  wdther  and  die 
within  a  short  time;  the  willow,  poplar  and 
beech  are  affected  in  the  same  way.  On  the 
other  hand,  some  species  of  oak,  the  mulberry, 
the  pear,  and  the  peach,  and  some  other  trees 
with  deep  roots,  do  not  suffer  from  its  applicor 
tion ;  neither  do  asparagus,  onions,  celery,  etc. : 
indeed,  the  growth  of  these  plants  is  improved 
by  its  use. 

Salt  acts  as  an  exterminator  of  some  kinds  of 
insects  in  the  soil.  It  has  likewise  been  found 
effective  in  destroying  the  wire-worm,  and  in 
preventing  mildew  and  rust.     The  danger  of  its 


76  AMERICAN    MANURES. 

application  for  the  destruction  of  vermin  is  in 
the  fact  that,  if  the  solution  be  strong  enough  to 
effect  the  object,  it  may  destroy  the  vegetation 
also. 

If  there  is  sufficient  salt  in  the  soil  to  supply 
soda  and  chlorine  to  the  plant,  it  is  not  advisable 
to  add  more  for  any  physical  effect  it  may  pro- 
duce in  the  decomposition  of  organic  substances  ; 
and  generally,  as  an  excess  is  very  injurious,  it 
should  in  all  cases  be  applied  with  great  caution. 
As  an  example  of  the  small  amount  generally 
required,  we  may  state  that  a  crop  of  25- bushels 
of  wheat,  together  with  the  straw,  contains  only 
a  little  more  than  5  lbs.  of  soda,  and  2i  lbs.  of 
chlorine,  which  10  lbs.  of  common  salt  will  fur- 
nish. 

If  soda  alone,  and  not  chlorine  is  needed,  it 
can  be  cheaply  supplied  in  the  form  of  sulphate 
of  soda  or  salt  cake,  which  is  a  by-product  in  the 
manufacture  of  hydrochloric  acid,  and  in  which 
the  chlorine  of  the  salt  is  replaced  by  sulphuric 
acid. 


CHAPTER  III. 

THE  COMPOSITION  OF  PLANTS— SHOWING  ALSO  THE 
AMOUNT  OF  THE  DIFFERENT  ELEMENTS  NECES- 
SARY TO  BE  ADDED  AS  MANURES  TO  PRODUCE 
A   GIYEN    CROP. 

Plants  of  the  same  kind  have  nearly  a  like 
composition  ;  and  the  relative  proportions  of  the 
elements  that  enter  into  the  composition  of 
different  plants  are  almost  always  the  same  in 
each  particular  species.  The  ashes  of  the  same 
kind  of  plants,  though  grown  on  different  soils, 
closely  resemble  each  other  in  chemical  com- 
position. There  may  be  a  slight  diminution  of 
some  particular  element,  from  a  lack  of  it  in  the 
soil;  but  the  variation  can  never  be  Itirge 
enough  to  materially  affect  the  value  of  the 
plant  for  food. 

Wheat  and  Corn,  if  produced  at  all,  must  be 
produced  of  nearly  a  standard  quality ;  that  is, 
with  a  certain  quantity  of  the  different  elements. 
If  the  grains  of  wheat  or  corn  could  grow  and 

ripen  without  the  aid  of  nitrogen  or  ammonia, 

77 


78  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

they  would  lack  one  of  the  most  essential  ele- 
ments of  nutrition,  viz.,  the  power  of  renewing 
the  blood,  the  nervous  tissues  and  muscular  fibre; 
or,  if  the  plant  could  grow  and  the  seed  ripen 
without  the  aid  of  phosphoric  acid,  there  would 
be  no  substance  furnished  to  build  up  the  bones ; 
or,  if  it  lacked  the  three  elements  of  nitrogen, 
lime  and  phosphoric  acid,  it  would  afford  scarce- 
ly anything  to  the  animal  body,  except  carbon, 
for  furnishing  animal  heat.  The  wheat  and 
seeds  found  in  the  catacombs  of  Egypt,  where 
they  have  lain  two  or  three  thousand  years, 
have  almost  an  identical  composition  with  those 
grown  at  the  present  time.  The  wheat  grown 
in  this  country  has  very  nearly  the  same  com- 
position as  that  grown  in  other  parts  of  the 
world.  Hence,  as  there  can  be  but  very  little 
variation  in  the  composition  of  each  species  of 
plants  used  for  food,  while  the  physical  laws  of 
nature  remain  as  they  now  are,  there  can,  con- 
sequently, be  no  variation  in  the  kind  and  quan- 
tity of  the  elements  required  by  plants  to  enable 
them  to  come  to  maturity. 

When  a  knowledge  of  the  nature  of  these 
elements  is  acquired,  and  the  quantity  necessary 
for  a  given  crop  ascertained,  the  accumulation 
of  these  materials  is  just  as  simple  as  that  of 
furnishing  the  raw  material  for  any  manufacture. 
Accurate  knowledge  of  those  substances  in  soils 


COMPOSITION   OF    PLANTS.  79 

that  render  them  fertile  when  present,  and 
barren  when  absent,  should  be  the  first  lesson 
of  the  farmer  who  wishes  to  be  successful  in  his 
business  and  pursue  it  on  a  rational  basis. 

The  methods  employed  for  manuring  and 
cultivating  lands  vary  in  different  countries, 
and  in  different  sections  of  the  same  country. 
Certain  local  circumstances  seem  to  control  these 
differences ;  but  in  most  cases  they  are  only  the 
result  of  custom  or  ignorance.  Hence,  if  we 
inquire  in  what  manner  manure  acts,  we  are 
likely  to  receive  the  following  answer,  even 
from  otherwise  intelligent  men  : — "  Its  action  is 
a  mystery ;  we  know  that  we  cannot  raise  crops 
without  it,  and  hence  w^e  use  it  in  our  soils." 
The  excrements  of  men  and  animals  are  supposed 
by  them  to  contain  a  mysterious  something, 
which  assists  the  growth  of  plants,  and  increases 
the  amount  of  production;  and  the  more  filthy 
and  unsavory  the  substance,  the  more  value  it 
is  supposed  to  contain. 

Accurate  knowledge  of  the  constituents  of 
different  cultivated  plants  is  all  important ;  we 
should  know  what  we  are  going  to  produce; 
otherwise  how  can  we  work  intelligently  to 
produce  it. 

All  plants  cultivated  'for  the  use  of  man  may 
be  classified  as  follows : 

I.  Potash  Plants — the  ash  of  which  contains 


80  AMERICAN    MANURES. 

more  than  half  its  weight  of  alkaline  bases- 
potash  and  soda.  Among  the  cultivated  potash 
plants,  are  Indian  corn,  beets,  turnips  and  pota- 
toes. 

II.  Lime  Plants — the  bulk  of  the  ash  of  which 
is  composed  of  the  salts  of  lime  and  magnesia. 
Among  these  are  beans,  peas,  clover  and  to- 
bacco. 

III.  Silica  Plants— those  in  which  silica  pre- 
dominates. Among  these  are  wheat,  rye,  oats 
and  barley. 

This  is  only  a  general  classification.  The 
farmer  should  know  the  actual  amount  of  each 
of  the  elements  of  fertility  required  by  an  aver- 
age crop  of  any  kind  of  plant  he  cultivates.  A 
field  properly  prepared  for  culture  ought  to  con- 
tain a  sufficient  quantity  of  all  the  inorganic 
materials  required  for  the  int-ended  crop,  and  in 
a  form  adapted  for  assimilation  by  the  plant ; 
together  with  a  certain  amount  of  ammoniacal 
salts  or  nitrates  and  decaying  vegetable  matter. 
For  instance,  if  it  is  the  intention  of  the  farmer 
to  raise  potatoes,  he  should  know  that  both  lime 
and  potash  are  required,  and  what  quantity  of 
each;  for  the  potatoe  belongs  to  the  lime  plants, 
as  regards  its  leaves^  and  the  potasji  plant  as 
regards  its  tubers.  In  raising  beets,  phosphate 
of  magnesia  is  required,  and  only  a  small  quan- 
tity of  lime  ;  but  in  growing  turnips  much  phos- 


ALBUMEN    AND    STARCH.  81 

phate  of  lime  is  required,  and  only  a  small 
quantity  of  magnesia. 

To  make  this  subject  intelligible  and  of  great 
value  to  the  farmer,  we  shall  give  tables  show- 
ing the  composition  of  the  grain  and  straw,  and 
the  roots  and  tops  of  the  plants  commonly  culti- 
vated. A  study  of  these  tables  will  amply 
repay  him,  by  giving  accurate  hnowledge  of  the 
composition  of  plants,  which  is  the  only  hey  to 
what  is  needed  in  manures  to  produce  them.  It 
will  also,  in  connection  with  a  knowledge  of  the 
constituents  of  his  soil,  enable  him  to  understand 
the  philosophy  of  a  rotation  of  crops,  and  to  select 
that  which  is  best  suited  to  his  land,  and  the 
manures  at  his  command ;  and  especially  enable 
him  to  estimate  the  value  of  the  waste  products 
of  his  farm,  and  to  apply  them  to  the  best  advan- 
tage. 

All  plants  and  seeds  cultivated  for  food  con- 
tain albumen  and  starch ;  the  starch  and  sugar 
are  produced  in  the  plant  from  carbonic  acid  and 
water;  the  albumen  and  gluten  result  from  the 
mutual  action  of  the  same  compounds,  together 
with  ammonia,  or  nitric  acid,  and  certain  sulphates 
and  phosphates,  but  the  manner  by  which  this 
is  effected  is  a  mystery  that  has  not  been  fully 
solved  by  the  most  laborious  investigation. 
Plants  are  valuable  as  food  in  proportion  to  the 
amount  of  albumen  and  starch  they  contain. 


82 


AMERICAN   MANURES. 


i  Table  showing  the  percentage  of  moisture  ;  of  albuminous  and 
ghitinous  compounds;  of  starch,  gum,  sugar  and  woody  fibre  ; 
and  of  ash  and  nitrogen,  and  the  equivalent  in  ammonia 
contained  in  the  different  products.  It  also  shows  their 
relative  value  as  food  : 


Common  Grass. . . 

Clover  Hay 

Barley  Straw^ 

Oat  Straw 

Wheat  Straw 

Corn  Stalks 

Carrots 

Turnips 

Potatoes 

Peas 

Beans 

Indian  Corn 

Rye 

Oats 

Barley 

Wheat 

Buckwheat 

Rice 

Cotton  Seed  Cake 


48-00 

16-00 

10-94 

8-25 

6-42 

10-20 

85-20 

90-43 

75-00 

10-80 

8-75 

15-00 

10-00 

10-10 

8-75 

8-55 

5-20 

15-10 

12-00 


G  o 


2-06 

8-12 

1-80 

2-15 

1-80 

1-08 

1-50 

1-35 

2-20 

23-40 

22-81 

11-25 

10-57 

14-20 

14-50 

19-50 

9-50 

6-27 

35-00 


""S 


2-20 
7-50 
5-14 
5.10 
5-12 
5.50 
0-90 
0-50 
0-90 
3.10 
3-40 
3-00 
2.10 
3-50 
3-65 
2-85 
2-20 
0-40 
4-50 


100-00 
100-00 
100-00 
100-00 
100-00 
100-00 
100-00 
100-00 
100-00 
100-00 
100-00 
100-00 
100-00 
100-00 
100-00 
100-00 
100-00 
100-00 
10000 


0-33 
1-30 
0-35 
0-39 
0-35 
0-24 
0-24 
0-21 
0-35 
3-74 
3-65 
1-18 
1-69 
2-27 
2-32 
2-41 
1-52 
1-00 
5-60 


0-40 
1-58 
0-42 
0-47 
0-42 
0-29 
0-29 
0-25 
0-42 
4-54 
4-43 
1-43 
2-05 
2-75 
2-81 
2-92 
1-84 
1-21 
6-80 


ALBUMEN   AND    STARCH.  83 

Albumen  and  Gluten  contain  nitrogen;  and 
this  nitrogen  renews  the  blood  and  builds  up  the 
lean  muscular  part  of  the  body.  Besides,  albu- 
men and  gluten  enter  into  the  composition  of 
the  bones. 

Starch  and  Gum  contain  no  nitrogen,  but  are 
rich  in  carbon.  This  carbon  is  required  to 
produce  and  keep  up  the  animal  heat  of  the 
body.  Men  and  animals  when  healthy  and 
taking  plenty  of  exercise,  by  which  their  respira- 
tion is  quickened,  and  especially  in  cold  weather, 
require  large  amounts  of  carbon,  which  uniting 
with  the  oxygen  of  the  atmosphere  forms  carbonic 
acid.  This  chemical  union  is,  strictly  speaking, 
a  combustion  of  the  carbon,  similar  to  that  of  a 
slow  fire,  and  produces  the  animal  heat  of  the 
body.  The  chemical  composition  of  starch,  gum, 
and  sugar  are  analogous.  The  fat  of  animals,  if 
pure,  contains  no  nitrogen,  but  it  is  composed  of 
carbon,  hydrogen,  and  oxygen.  Should  an  animal 
be  debarred  from  exercise  and  fed  upon  a  sub- 
stance rich  in  carbon,  as  indian  corn  or  rice,  it 
would  rapidly  increase  in  fat.  Carnivorous  ani- 
mals are  nearly  destitute  of  fat,  while  domestic 
stall-fed  animals  acquire  a  large  amount  of  it. 
If  the  fattened  animal  is  allowed  exercise,  or  set 
to  work,  the  fat  quickly  disappears. 

Dogs  and  cats,  when  fed  on  a  mixed  diet, 
accumulate  fat;  so  that  by  feeding  them  with 


84  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

food  containing  a  large  amount  of  carbon,  and  a 
small  amount  of  nitrogen,  and  allowing  them 
but  little  exercise,  the  increase  of  fat  can  be 
controlled  at  pleasure. 

Woody  Fibre  is  rich  in  carbon,  but  it  is*not  in 
a  form  to  be  readily  assimilated  on  account  of  its 
insolubility.  For  this  reason,  the  carbon  con- 
tained in  wheat,  in  corn,  and  in  potatoes,  in  the 
form  of  starch  and  gum,  is  the  principal  source 
of  supply  for  man.  Woody  fibre  can  be  changed 
to  starch  and  sugar  in  the  laboratory  of  the 
chemist,  but  the  digestive  organs  of  men  and 
animals  are  inadequate  to  the  production  of  this 
result ;  otherwise,  animals  might  be  fattened  on 
saw-dust  or  pine  shavings. 

The  process  of  fattening  depends  upon  the 
fact,  that  too  small  an  amount  of  oxygen  is 
taken  into  the  system  by  respiration  to  consume 
the  carbon  in  the  food,  the  unconsumed  part 
being  in  such  case  changed  into  fat.  Hence  it 
is,  that  animals  at  rest,  or  taking  but  little 
exercise,  if  fed  upon  food  containing  much  starch 
or  gum,  fatten  rapidly ;  because  then  respiration 
being  less  frequent  and  full,  too  small  an  amount 
of  oxygen  is  taken  into  the  lungs  to  consume  the 
carbon.  The  foregoing  Table  also  furnishes  in- 
formation as  to  the  relative  value  of  the  several 
grasses  and  grains  named  for  fattening. 


INORGANIC   ELEMENTS. 


85 


Table  showing  the  amount  of  inorganic  and  mineral  substances 
usually  found  in  100  lbs.  of  the  plants  named  in  their  mar- 
ketable condition : — serves  as  a  key  to  the  application  of 
the  proper  elements,  as  fertilizers. 


Wheat 

Wheat  Straw 

Rye 

Rye  Straw 

Barley 

Barley  Straw 

Oats 

Oat  Straw 

Buckwheat ; . . 

Buckwheat  Straw. 

Indian  Corn 

Corn  Stalks 

Peas 

Pea  Straw 

Beans 

Bean  Straw 

Potatoes 

Beets 

Carrots *... 

Turnips 


0-09 

0-40 

0-0 

0-41 

0-05 

0-44 

0-11 

0-37 

0-13 

1-10 

0-03 

0-59 

0-14 

1-94 

0-25 

1-51 

0-01 

0-03 

0-09 

0-08 


0-31 
0-17 
0-23 
0-15 
0-17 
0-14 
0-21 
0-19 
0-20 
0-21 
0'27 
0-31 
0-19 
0-36 
0-17 
0-43 
0-02 
0-04 
0-04 
0-02 


0-07 
4-77 
0-52 
3-01 
0-53 
3-44 
0-13 
2-47 
0-02 
0-33 
0-08 
2-72 
002 
0-27 
0-24 
0-33 
0-01 
0-02 
0-02 
0-01 


0-02 
0-05 
0-02 
0-04 
0-01 

0-01 
0-04 
0-02 

0-02 
0-09 
0-02 
0-07 
009 
0-10 
0-06 
0-04 
0-07 
0-02 


0-80 
0-79 
0-57 
0-80 
0-44 
1-29 
0-46 
1-00 
0-17 
2-76 
0-52 
1-99 
1-00 
1-07 
1-34 
1-96 
0-20 
0-21 
0-29 
0-32 


0-08 
0-11 
0-09 
0-11 
0-14 
0-24 
0-07 
0-30 
0-40 
0-13 
0-26 
0-07 
0-08 
0-28 
0-05 
0-52 


0-05 
0-16 
0-06 


1-00 
0-37 
0-91 
0-27 
0-67 
0-27 
0-63 
0-20 
1-00 
0-61 
0-89 
0-45 
0-87 
0-35 
0-96 
0-47 
0-06 
0-06 
0-08 
0-07 


0-12 
0-17 
0-50 
0-10 
0-12 
0-22 
0-45 
0-16 
0-44 
0-31 
0-10 
0-28 
0-11 
0-30 
0-13 
0-13 
0-02 
002 
0-05 
0-08 


The  foregoing  Table  exhibits  the  average  results 


of  many  analyses  of  the  plants  named,  by  the 
most  distinguished  agricultural  chemists  of  this 
country  and  Europe.     It  must  not  be  supposed 


86  AMERICAN    MANURES. 

that  it  gives  the  exact  composition  in  every  case. 
Still  it  is  near  enough  for  all  practical  purposes, 
and  furnishes  a  very  reliable  guide  to  manuring. 

We  shall  now  show  the  different  amounts  of 
inorganic  and  mineral  substances  required  by  a 
good  crop  of  different  plants,  on  an  acre  of  land. 
This  information  will  show  the  relative  value  of 
manures  and  fertilizers  in  producing  crops,  and 
the  kind  and  amount  required. 

It  is  a  fact  known  to  farmers,  that  if  they 
can  raise  good  crops  of  wheat  on  their  land, 
they  can  raise  a  good  crop  of  almost  any 
other  plant  adapted  to  the  climate  and  soil. 
Hence,  a  study  of  the  wheat  crop  will  serve  to 
show  all  the  essential  elements  of  fertility.  In 
100  parts  or  pounds  of  wheat,  about  97J  are 
combustible,  being  carbon  and  nitrogen,  and  the 
elements  of  water — hydrogen  and  oxygen ;  and 
of  the  straw  from  92  to  94  parts  are  also 
combustible. 

The  grain  and  straw  of  wheat  has  the  average 
chemical  composition  shown  in  the  following 
Table: 

Grain.  Straw. 

Carbon 46-10  48-48 

Hydrogen 5-80  541 

Oxygen 43^40  38*79 

Nitrogen 2-29  -35 

Ash 2-41  6-97 

10000  lAooo  . 


PEA    STRAW   AND   CLOVER.  87 

The  greatest  proportional  difference  in  the 
combustible  part  of  wheat  and  its  straw  is  in 
the  relative  amount  of  nitrogen.  The  reader 
\vill  notice  that  there  is  in  equal  weights  nearly 
seven  times  as  much  nitrogen  in  the  grain  as  in 
the  straw.  If  the  farmer  had  to  rely  on  decaying 
straw  to  furnish  the  necessary  amount  of  nitrogen^ 
it  would  require  700  lbs.  of  straw  to  furnish 
enough  for  100  lbs.-  of  the  grain  of  wheat, 
and  a  crop  of  25  bushels  to  the  acre,  or  1500 
lbs.  of  wheat,  would  require  over  five  tons  of 
straw  to  furnish  the  nitrogen  required.  On  the 
other  hand,  one  half  of  this  amount  will  furnish 
the  phosphoric  acid  and  the  other  elements  re- 
quired for  the  grain.  But,  if  the  farmer  manured 
with  pea  straw,  or  clover,  the  case  would  be 
different,  as  the  following  analyses  of  clover  and 
pea  straw  will  show  : 

Pea  Straw.  Clover  Ilay. 

Carbon 45'80  47-40 

Hydrogen 5-00  5-00 

Oxygen 35-57  3860 

Nitrogen 2-31  1-30 

Ash 11-32  7-70 

100-00  100-00 

Pea  straw  contains  as  much  nitrogen,  weight 
for  weight,  as  wheat ;  and  when  cut  in  proper 
time  and  cured  properly,  it  makes  the  best  of 
fodder  and  the  best  of  manure.  Clover  is  very 
nearly  as  valuable  for  both  purposes. 


88  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

The  ash  left  after  carefully  burning  the  seeds 
and  straw  or  stems  of  cultivated  plants,  is  very 
nearly  the  same  in  chemical  composition  for 
each  variety.  The  variations  found  are  no 
greater  than  might  be  expected  from  tbe  in- 
fluence of  climate  and  soil.  The  farmer  should 
uniformly  determine  to  raise  a  maximum  amount 
from  each  cultivated  acre  of  his  land.  This 
result  is  nearly  as  much  under  his  command,  as 
that  of  the  mechanic  or  laborer  who  commences 
the  work  of  the  day  with  a  determination  of 
performing  a  certain  amount  of  work,  and  who 
but  for  that  determination,  and  the  proper  use  of 
his  tools  or  hands,  would  accomplish  much  less. 

The  following  amounts  of  different  crops  have 
been  year  after  year  raised  from  an  acre  of 
ordinary  land,  by  the  proper  application  of 
manures : 


Wheat 25bnshels. 

Rye 30      " 

Buckwheat..  30      " 
Potatoes..  100      " 


Corn 50  bushels. 

Oats 50        '* 

Barley 30 

Two  tons  of  Hay. 


"  What  has  been  done  can  be  done  again ;" 
and  w4iy  should  it  not?  A  determination  to  do, 
and  the  application  of  the  proper  means,  are  all 
that  is  required.  Only  when  such  crops  are 
raised,  can  farming  be  said  to  be  a  successful  and 
remunerative  business.  How  common  is  the 
complaint  among  our  farmers,  that  after  allowing 


WHEAT,  89 

ordinary  wages  for  their  own  labor,  and  paying 
expenses,  they  do  not  realize  legal  interest  on 
the  money  invested  in  their  land  and  improve- 
ments. This  need  not  and  should  not  be  the 
case.  In  many  parts  of  England,  more  is  paid 
yearly  as  rent  than  would  purchase  land  equally 
as  good  in  this  country ;  yet  these  renters  not 
only  live  well,  but  frequently  become  wealthy. 
We  will  now  show  what  quantity  of  the  ele- 
ments that  can  be  applied  as  manures  the  above 
named  crops  contain. 

WHEAT. 

Twenty-five  bushels  of  wheat,  of  60  lbs.  to  the 
bushel,  the  estimated  product  of  an  acre,  weigh 
1500  lbs. ;  the  straw  for  this  weight  of  grain  will 
average  3000  lbs.  The  wheat  and  straw  contain 
the  following  weights  of  the  elements,  which  is 
the  amount  of  each  taken  from  each  acre  of  land 
by  such  a  crop : 

Grain.  Straw.  Total. 

^  Ammonia 41-71  lbs.  10.18  lbs.  51-89  lbs 

Phosphoric  acid..  15-00  ''  ll'lO  ''  26-10  '* 

Sulphuric  acid...     1-80  ''  5-10  '*  6-90  " 

Lime 1-35  "  12-00  '^  13-35  " 

Magnesia 465  "  510   "  9*75  " 

Potash 12-00  "  .23-70  "  35-70  " 

Silica 1-05  "  143-10  "  144-15  " 

The  Table  shows  also  the  relative  amounts  of 
the  different  elements  required  to  raise  wheat. 

*  In  this  and  similar  cases  the  **  elements  of  ammonia"  are  meant. 


90  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

The  reader  will  notice  the  large  amount  of  silica 
required  for  the  straw.  Too  little  attention  has 
been  given  to  economizing  this  substance,  silica, 
by  wheat  growers  in  this  country.  In  building 
up  the  structure  of  the  straw,  soluble  silica  is 
indispensable.  The  straw  and  the  roots  consti- 
tute the  chemical  apparatus  for  the  preparation 
and  assimilation  of  the  different  elements  re- 
quired by  the  grain  itself.  Hence  it  is  evident, 
that  if  there  is  not  enough  of  soluble  silica  to 
give  this  preliminary  structure  its  proper  de- 
velopment, there  will  be  only  a  small  amount  of 
grain  produced,  however  rich  the  soil  may  be 
in  the  other  elements'  required. 

Silica  to  be  available  to  the  plant  must  be  in 
a  soluble  condition;  and,  as  the  farmer  must 
wait  for  the  slow  formation  or  liberation  of  this 
substance  in  the  soil,  the  alternating  of  wheat 
with  other  crops  that  require  but  little  of  it, 
will  allow  time  for  it  to  accumulate  in  the  soil 
for  the  raising  of  wheat  crops  at  proper  intervals. 

INDIAN  CORN. 

Fifty  bushels  of  corn — the  estimated  crop  of  an 
acre— of  58  lbs.  to  the  bushel  =  2900  lbs.  This 
weight  of  corn  will  require  3000  lbs.  of  stalk 
and  cob  (when  dry),  and  will  contain  : — 


RYE.  91 

Grain.  Stalk  and  Cob.        Total. 

Ammonia 34*22  lbs.      6  00  lbs.  40*22' lbs. 

Phosphoric  acid 25*81  '^  13*50  '*  39*31  " 

Sulphuric  acid 2*90  "  8*40  ''  11*30  " 

Lime -87"  17*70"  18*57" 

Magnesia 7*83  "  9*30  "  17*13  " 

Potaph ....15-08  ''  59-70  "*  74*78  " 

Silica 2*32  "  81*60  "  83*92  " 

The  reader  will  notice  that  Indian  corn  re- 
quires much  more  phosphoric  acid  and  potash 
than  wheat,  while  the  amount  of  ammonia  is 
only  a  little  more  than  half  as  much;  conse- 
quentlj,  its  nutritive  properties  as  food  are  in 
about  the  same  proportion ;  that  is,  in  proportion 
to  the  ammonia.  Corn  stalks  contain  a  large 
amount  of  potash  and  silica,  and,  when  properly 
prepared  as  manures,  will  furnish  these  elements 
for  other  crops.  From  the  comparatively  small 
amount  of  ammonia  required  by  the  corn  crop, 
it  can  be  raised  at  less  cost  to  the  soil  than  wheat, 
because  ammonia  is  one  of  the  most  costly  of  the 
organic  elements. 

EYE. 

Thirty  bushels — the  estimated  product  of  an 
acre — of  50  lbs.  to  the  bushel  =  1500  lbs. ;  the 
same  weight  as  25  bushels  of  wheat.  This  crop 
requires  at  least  3000  lbs.  of  straw.  The  grain 
and  straw  contain : 
7 


92  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

Grain.  Straw.  Total. 

Ammonia 34-05  lbs.  8-70  lbs.  42-75  lbs. 

Phosphoric  Acid 13-65  "  8-10  "  21-75  '' 

Sulphuric  Acid 7*50  "  3-00  "  10-50  " 

Lime 1-05  "  12-30  '^  13-35  " 

Magnesia.... 2-25  "  4-50  "  6-75  " 

Potash 8-55  '*  24-00  "  32-55  " 

SiUca 7-80  ''  90-00  ''  97-80  " 

By  comparing  the  above  Table  with  the  one 
giving  the  composition  of  wheat,  the  reader  can 
understand  why  larger  coTitinuous  crops  of  rye 
than  of  wheat  can  be  raised  from  the  same  soil ; 
because  rye  does  not  require  so  much  of  those 
elements  which  are  first  exhausted  in  soils  as 
wheat  does.  In  like  manner,  by  studying  the 
composition  of  different  crops,  and  noting  the 
amounts  of  the  different  elements  required  to 
produce  them,  we  can  understand  why  farmers 
should  have  a  dollar  for  a  bushel  of  wheat,  when 
corn  is  selling  at  fifty  cents,  and  rye  at  seventy- 
five.  Such  an  examination  shows  that  the 
quantity,  and  consequently  the  price  of  any  crop, 
are  naturally  regulated  by  the  amount  of  certain 
valuable  substances  required  for  its  production. 

OATS. 

Fifty  bushels  of  oats — the  estimated  product 
of  an  acre — of  33  lbs.  to  the  bushel  =  1650  lbs. 
This  amount  of  grain  requires  about  2000  lbs. 
of  straw.     The  grain  and  straw  contain  : 


BARLEY.  93 

Grain.  Straw.  Total. 

Ammonia...., 37-45  lbs.  7*80  lbs.  45-25  lbs. 

Phosphoric  Acid 10-39  ''  4-00  "  14-59  " 

Sulphuric  Acid 6-G2  "  3-20  "        9-82  *' 

Lime 1-81  "  7*40  '''         9-21  '' 

Magnesia 3-47  ^'  3-80  "         7-27  '* 

V      Potash 7-59  "  6*00  "  13*59  " 

Silica 2-14  '^  45-40  "  47-54  ** 

The  reader  will  note  the  large  amount  of  am- 
monia required  by  this  crop.  This  accounts  for 
the  nutritive  properties  of  the  grain  and  straw. 
The  amount  of  phosphoric  acid  and  potash  is 
small  compareid  with  that  of  other  cereals. 

BARLEY. 

Thirty  bushels  of  barley — the  estimated  pro- 
duct of  an  acre — of  48  lbs.  to  the  bushel  =  1440 
lbs.  The  straw  weighs  2000  lbs.  The  grain  and 
straw  contain  : 

Grain.  Straw.  Total. 

Ammonia 33-40  lbs.  7*60  lbs.  41*00  lbs. 

Phosphoric  Acid.  9-64  "              5*40  "  15-04  " 

Sulphuric  Acid...  1-73  "  4-40  ''  6-13  " 

Lime -72  "             8-80  ^'  9-52  " 

Magnesia 2-44  "              2-80  "  5-24  " 

Potash 6-33  "  2580  ^'  32-13  " 

Silica 7-63"  68-80''  76-43" 

Oat  and  barley  straw  are  good  manures,  as 
they  are  rich  sources  of  nitrogen,  containing,  as 
they  do,  a  large  percentage  of  ammonia.  From 
this  cause  also,  they  make  good  fodder  for  cattle. 
Only  a  small  amount  of  phosphoric  acid  and  pot- 
ash is  required  for  these  straws,  while  the  amount 


94  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

of  silica  is  only  one  half  of  that  required  for 
wheat  straw. 

BUCKWHEAT. 

Thirty  bushels  of  buckwheat — the  estimated 
product  of  an  acre — of  40  lbs.  to  the  bushel 
=  1200  lbs.  The  straw  weighs  about  2000  lbs. 
The  grain  and  straw  contain: 


Grain.  Straw.  Total. 

Ammonia 18-24  lbs.  1-20  lbs.  19-44  lbs. 

Phosphoric  Acid.  12-00  "  12-20  ''  24-20  " 

Sulphuric  Acid..   5-22  ''  6-20  "  11-42  " 

Lime 1-56  ''  2200  "  23-56  " 

Magnesia 2-40  "  4-20  "  660  " 

^  Potash 2-04  "  55-20  "    -  57-24  " 

Silica 0-24  ''  6-60  "  6-84  '' 

The  reader  will  notice  that  this  crop  requires 
a  large  amount  of  potash,  while  the  amount  of 
ammonia  and  phosphoric  acid  is  comparatively 
small.  The  potash  seems  to  take  the  place  of 
silica  in  the  formation  of  the  straw,  as  only  a 
small  amount  of  that  substance  is  required.  As 
this  straw  contains  very  little  ammonia,  it  is 
almost  worthless  as  fodder ;  but  as  manure  it  is 
valuable  for  its  phosphoric  acid,  lime  and  potash. 

POTATOES. 

One  hundred  bushels  of  potatoes,  of  60  lbs.  to 
the  bushel  =  6000  lbs.  of  tubers.  The  tops,  when 
dry,  weigh  about  3000  lbs. ;  and  the  tops  and 
tubers  of  such  a  crop  contain  : 


CLOVER   HAY.  95 

Tubers.  Tops.  Total. 

Ammonia 21-00  lbs.  1-50  lbs.  22-50  lbs.    v 

Phosphoric  Acid  3300  "  18-00  **  51-00  '' 

Sulphm-icAcid.   12-00  "  15-50  "  28-10  " 

Lime 4-20"  55-00"  59-20*' 

•      Magnesia 7-80  *'  10-50  "  18-30  ** 

Potash 109-00  "  70-00  "  179-00  " 

Silica 13-00  "  30-00  "  43-00  " 

Twenty  bushels  of  wheat  require  15  lbs.  of 
phosphoric  acid  for  the  grain,  and  11  lbs.  for  the 
straw ;  while  100  bushels  of  potatoes  require 
double  this  amount.  Hence^  two  medium  crops 
of  wheat  exhaust  only  as  much  of  this  valuable 
element  as  one  crop  of  potatoes.  Also,  only  one- 
sixth  the  amount  of  potash  required  for  potatoes 
is  necessary  for  the  wheat  crop.  In  raising  pota- 
toes, few  farmers  supply  a  sufficient  amount  of 
phosphoric  acid  and  potash.  Hence,  this  plant 
and  its  tubers  have  become  constitutionally 
deteriorated  on  most  farms,  and  liable  to  speedy 
decay.  A  bushel  of  potatoes  contains  only  about 
one-seventh  the  amount  of  nitrogen  contained  in 
a  bushel  of  wheat,  and  its  nutritive  value  for  the 
production  of  blood  and  muscle  is  in  the  same 
proportion. 

CLOVER  HAY. 

Two  tons,  or  4000  lbs.,  of  dried  clover  may  be 
considered  an  average  crop  per  acre.  This 
amount  contains : 


96  AMERICAN    MANURES. 


Ammonia 52*00  lbs. 

Phosphoric  Acid..  19'76  " 
{Sulphuric  Acid...   7'50  " 


Lime 75-00  lbs. 

Magnesia  . .  „ 21*00  " 

Potash 80-69  " 


Silica 18*65  lbs. 

Clover  requires  a  large  amount  of  potash  and 
ammonia,  while  the  amount  of  silica  required  is 
small.  Great  benefits  are  realized  by  growing 
this  crop ;  it  sends  its  roots  deep  into  the  soil, 
and  brings  up  the  phosphate  and  sulphate  of 
lime,  also  potash  and  magnesia ;  and  when  the 
clover  is  plowed  under,  as  a  green  manure,  it 
furnishes  a  large  amount  of  the  nitrogen  ^re- 
quired for  a  heavy  crop  of  wheat. 

All  Root  Crops  require  a  rich  soil  to  do  well. 
Twenty  tons  of  Turnips  or  Carrots,  with  the  tops, 
— which  is  a  large  crop  for  an  acre, — require: 

Turnips.  Carrots. 

Ammonia 42*00  lbs.  48*00  lbs 

Phosphoric  Acid 45*00  "  39*00  '* 

Sulphuric  Acid 50*00  "  57*00  " 

Lime 90*00"  197*00" 

Magnesia 14*00  "  29*00  " 

Potash 140*00  "  134*00  " 

Silica 55*00  "  60*00  " 

Tobacco  and  Cotton  require  a  rich  soil  to 
grow  luxuriantly,  as  the  following  Table,  showing 
the  amounts,  in  pounds,  of  inorganic  elements 
contained  in  1000  lbs.  of  the  stems  and  leaf  of 
tobacco,  and  the  fibre,  seed  and  stalk  of  cotton, 
in  their  air-dried  state,  will  show : 


TOBACCO   AND   COTTON.  97 

Cotton. 
Tobacco.  Fibre.         Seed.  Stalk. 

Phosphoric  Acid 8-6  8-3  14-8  5*5 

Sulphuric  Acid 9-3  5-6  1-6  05 

Lime 88-8  25-7  2-4  7*0 

Magnesia 25-0  14-5  5*6  2-2 

Potash 73-7  54-0  14-4  88 

Silica 23-0  1*3  34  2*5 

We  regret  that  we  could  not  obtain  reliable 
analyses  of  cotton  and  tobacco,  showing  the 
amount  of  nitrogen  or  ammonia  required.  The 
reader  can  see  that  in  raising  tobacco,  a  large 
amount  of  lime  and  potash  is  required,  while  the 
amount  of  phosphoric  acid  is  small.  The  cotton 
plant  requires  more  phosphoric  acid,  but  either 
crop  can  be  raised  more  readily  and  profitably 
from  ordinary  soils,  where  climate  is  suitable, 
than  either  wheat  or  corn. 

The  foregoing  Tables  are  of  great  value  to  the 
farmer  and  planter,  in  showing  them  the  amount 
of  the  different  valuable  elements  required  by  dif- 
ferent crops ;  also,  how  far  the  commercial  manures 
of  a  known  composition  are  able  to  supply  the 
material  for  these  crops.  If  the  reader  wishes  to 
know  how  much  of  those  elements  which  are 
not  usually  applied  as  principal  constituents  of 
manures,  such  as  oxygen,  hydrogen,  chlorine, 
iron,  soda,  and  carbon,  is  required  by  plants,  he 
may  refer  to  the  Tables  6n  pages  82  and  85, 
which  will  show  him   the  percentage  of  these 


98  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

substances  ;  and  from  these  he  can  readily  calcu- 
late the  amount  required  by  different  crops  for 
an  acre. 

Every  crop  should  be  supplied  with  the  full 
amount  of  all  the  substances  needed  to  bring  it 
to  maturity.  That  this  vital  principle  is  not 
understood,  or  at  least  attended  to,  is  painfully 
evident  from  an  examination  of  the  statistics 
furnished  in  the  reports  of  the  Agricultural  De- 
partment, at  Washington.  By  these  reports  we 
find  that  the  average  of  the  amounts  of  the 
different  crops  raised  on  an  acre  in  thirty  States 
of  the  Union  is,  as  follows  : 


Wheat 11-56  bushels. 

Indian  Corn. 28-00 

Eye. 13-30 

Oats 23-95        " 


Barley 19*14  bushels. 

Buckwheat.  17-68        " 
Potatoes...  93-23 
Hay. 1-28  tons. 


The  above  averages  show  conclusively  that 
there  is  a  great  necessity  for  a  more  extended 
use  of  manufactured  manures. 

Even  Pennsylvania,  that  boasts  of  her  fertile 
soils  and  the  perfection  of  her  system  of  agricul- 
ture, produces  only  the  following  average  of  the 
above  named  crops  per  acre : 


Wnieat 12-8  bushels. 

Rye 13-0 

Barley 21-4 

Potatoes 88-0        " 


Indian  Corn... 35*0  bushels 

Oats 27-8         " 

Buckwheat.  .  16*5         " 
Hay 1-3  tons 


But  this  will  favorably  contrast  with  South 


AVERAGE    CROPS.  99 

Carolina,  which  shows  the  lowest  average  pro- 
duction, as  follows : 


Wheat.... 

.  ...5*6  bushels. 

Corn 

..  10-2  bushels 

Rye 

....5-0 

Oats 

..     9-7 

Barley.... 

...9-0 

Potatoes.. 

.  101-0 

The  crop  of  potatoes  exceeds  the  general  aver- 
age, but  the  amount  of  the  other  crops  raised 
must  afford  a  very  inadequate  remuneration  to 
the  farmer,  barely  exceeding  the  cost  of  seed, 
cultivation,  and  preparation  for  market.  The 
principal  cause  of  this  state  of  things  is  the  ig- 
norance of  the  farmer  of  what  substances  he 
needs,  in  kind  and  quantity  to  produce  the  in- 
tended crop.  A  full  knowledge  of  what  and 
how  much  plants  need  to  insure  their  healthy 
growth,  will  induce  the  farmer  to  use  all  care 
and  economy  in  saving,  preparing,  and  applying 
these  substances.  The  Tables  already  given  are 
invaluable  in  giving  this  information.  But  there 
are  necessary  conditions  that  must  be  complied 
wdth.  A  plant  contains  various  substances,  and 
every  one  of  these  must  be  present  to  enable  it 
to  come  to  maturity.  Besides,  these  substances 
must  be  in  a  condition  to  become  soluble  in  wa- 
ter, either  alone  or  in  combination  with  other 
substances  with  which  they  are  brought  in  contact 
in  the  soil,  during  the  time  that  intervenes  be- 
tween the  planting  and  the  gathering  of  the 
crop.      This   is    a   very   intricate    subject,    and 


100  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

aJfords  a  broad  field  for  speculation  and  research, 
and^  when  fully  understood,  will  be  a  guide  to 
the  fixing  of  the  relative  values  of  the  different 
elements  essential  to  the  growth  of  plants. 

The  reader  who  has  carefully  perused  our 
work  thus  far,  should  have  acquired  a  general 
knowledge  of  the  different  substances  entering 
into  the  growth  of  plants.  He  should  know 
why  some  soils  will  produce  one  crop  and  not 
another,  and  why  two  crops  of  the  same  kind 
cannot  profitably  be  raised  in  succession,  on  the 
same  land.  Also,  that  some  crops  take  from  the 
land  more  of  one  substance  than  of  another ;  and 
that  wheat  exhausts  the  soil  of  its  most  valuable 
constituents  much  sooner  than  corn,  rye  or  oats. 
He  should  understand  the  true  philosophy  of  the 
rotation  of  crops ;  also,  why  the  straw  of  wheat 
may  flourish  and  not  the  ear,  as  the  straw  con- 
tains  comparatively  little  of  the  same  ingredients 
required  for  the  grain ;  and  why  good  crops  of 
wheat  fall  to  the  ground  for  want  of  proper 
strength  in  the  straw  to  support  the  ears,  as  the 
straw  requires  a  large  amount  of  silica,  with 
little  lime,  magnesia  and  phosphoric  acid,  and 
the  grain  a  large  amount  of  the  latter  substances. 
In  a  word,  he  should  understand  why  some  soils 
wdll  grow  good  straw  with  small  ears,  and  other 
soils  large  ears  with  little  straw. 

The   amount   of  inorganic  food  required  for 


COMPOSITION   OF   PLANTS.  101 

plants  may  appear  trifling,  as  shown  by  the  an- 
alyses ;  but  its  value  is  startling  when  we  con- 
sider it  in  the  crops  removed  from  an  acre  of 
land.  Tlie  following  case,  given  by  Professor 
Johnson,  will  illustrate  this  in  a  striking  man- 
ner: 

In  a  four  years'  course  of  cropping,  in  which 
the  crops  gathered  amounted  per  acre  to — 

1st  year,  turnips,  20  tons  bulbs,  and  6^  tons  tops; 
2nd  year,  barley,  40  bushels,  and  1  ton  of  straw; 
3rd  year,  wheat,  25  bushels,  and  If  tons  of  straw ; 
4th  year,  clover  and  rye  grass,  1|-  tons  each  of  straw ; 

the  quantity  of  inorganic  matter  carried  off  in 
the  four  crops,  supposing  none  to  be  consumed 
on  the  land,  is  a  follows  : 

Silica 356  lbs. 

Phosphoric  Acid 116  " 

Sulphuric  Acid 108  " 

Lime 193  '^ 

Magnesia , 55  " 

Oxide  of  Iron 15  " 

Potash 317  '' 

Soda 54  " 

Chlorine 70  '' 

Total 1284  lbs. 

Now,  if  the  entire  produce  be  carried  from  the 
land,  and  no  manures  be  applied  in  the  meantime, 
it  will  be  necessary,  to  restore  the  land  to  its 
original  condition,  to  add  to  each  acre  : 


102  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

Bonedust 552  lbs. 

Epsom  Salts 326  " 

Dry  Pearl  Ash 465  •* 

Quicklime 70  " 

Common  Salt 116  *' 

Total 1529  lbs. 

^  The  constant  removal  of  such  large  quantities 
of  the  inorganic  food  of  plants  must,  in  time,  ex- 
haust a  soil  and  render  it  barren,  unless  restored 
by  a  judicious  system  of  manuring.  The  soluble 
salts,  such  as  potash  and  soda,  are  also  liable  to 
leach  through  to  the  subsoil,  and  also  to  be 
washed  away  by  rains.  In  general,  however,  all 
fertile  soils  contain  a  good  store  of  the  inorganic 
food  of  plants,  so  that  the  deterioration  is  often 
a  slow  process.  In  rare  instances,  a  century 
may  elapse  before  the  change  prove  such  as  to 
make  a  sensible  diminution  in  the  rental  value. 
Such  slow  changes  are  seldom  recorded.  Hence 
the  practical  man  is  occasionally  led  to  despise 
the  clearest  theoretical  principles,  because  he 
has  not  happened  to  see  them  verified  in  his  own 
limited  experience;  as  well  as  to  neglect  the 
suggestions  and  wise  precautions  which  these 
principles  lay  before  him.  Illustrations  of  this 
sure,  though  slow  decay,  may  be  met  with  in 
the  agricultural  history  of  almost  every  country ; 
but  in  none  more  strikingly  than  in  the  old  slave 
States,  Maryland,  Virginia,   North    and  South 


EFFECTS   OF   CROPPING.  103 

Carolina — once  rich  and  fertile.  By  a  long  con- 
tinued system  of  forced  and  exhausting  culture, 
these  lands  have  become  unproductive,  and  vast 
tracts  have  been  abandoned  to  hopeless  sterility. 
Such  lands  it  is  possible  to  reclaim ;  but  at  what 
an  expense  of  time,  labor,  manure,  and  skilful 
management?  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  new 
States  will  not  thus  sacrifice  their  future  power 
and  prospects  to  present  and  temporary  wealth; 
that  these  fine  lands,  w^hich  now  yield  immense 
successive  crops  of  Indian  corn  and  wheat,  with- 
out intermission  and  without  manure,  will  not  be 
cropped  till  their  strength  and  substance  is  gone; 
but  that  a  better  conducted  and  more  skilful 
husbandry  may  be  adopted,  which  will  ensure 
unimpaired  fertility  to  these  naturally  rich  and 
productive  soils. 

Another  instance  of  exhaustion  may  be  seen 
in  the  West  India  sugar  plantations.  The  cane, 
after  having  had  its  saccharine  juice  pressed  out  - 
at  the  mill,  serves  as  fuel  for  boiling  down  the 
syrup.  The  ash  thus  produced  is  rich  in  the 
mineral  ingredients  necessary  to  the  prosperity 
.of  the  plant.  The  neglect  to  return  this  valua- 
ble ash  to  the  soil  has  not  only  occasioned  a 
large  importation  of  foreign  manures,  but  also  a 
serious  deterioration  of  the  soil. 


CHAPTER    IV. 

THE  ORIGIN  AND  COMPOSITION  OF  SOILS,  SHOWING 
THE  NATURAL  SOURCES  OF  THE  ELEMENTS  AS 
CONTAINS)    IN    PLANTS. 

An  accurate  knowledge  of  the  constituents  of 
soils  is  equally  important  to  the  farmer  and  planter 
as  a  knowledge  of  the  composition  of  differ- 
ent crops,  and  of  the  materials  at  his  command 
to  produce  them.  Notwithstanding  the  im- 
portance of  this  knowledge,  the  chemical  com- 
position of  the  land  is  rarely  considered  in  the 
selection  and  purchase  of  a  farm ;  the  fact  that 
it  produces  crops,  the  location,  convenience  to 
markets,  and  the  money  value  of  the  improve- 
ments, are  the  principal  considerations.  If  the 
land  has  hitherto  produced  good  crops,  it  is 
taken  as  a  guarantee  that  it  will  continue  to  do 
so ;  the  soil  is  not  examined,  to  see  how  far  the 
stores  of  organic  and  mineral  matter  necessary 
to  fertility  have  been  exhausted. 

It  requires  but  a  superficial  examination  of  this 
subject,  to  demonstrate  that  lands  should  have  a 
commercial  value,  other  things  being  equal,  in  pro- 
portion to  the  quantity  and  condition  of  the  valu- 
able constituents  of  plants  contained  in  an  acre. 

104 


COMPOSITION   OF    SOILS.  105 

There  are  virgin  soils  that  now  raise  large  crops, 
but  which  will  be  soon  exhausted,  as  their  fertil- 
izing ingredients  are  small  in  amount,  though  in 
an  active  soluble  state.  Other  soils,  probably  less 
productive,  contain  an  almost  unlimited  supply 
of  fertilizing  ingredients,  which  are  being  gradu- 
ally liberated  and  given  in  soluble  form  to  supply 
the  wants  of  vegetation  ;  the  former  may  become 
sterile  in  less  than  twenty  years,  the  latter  be 
productive  for  centuries.  The  fects  just  stated 
show  the  importance  of  having  soils  analyzed, 
so  that  the  farmer  may  know  the  amount  of 
fertilizing  substances  he  has  on  hand.  This 
would  be  analogous  to  taking  an  account  of  stock 
by  the  merchant  or  manufacturer,  only  it  need 
not  be  done  so  often.  After  once  acquiring  this 
knowledge,  the  farmer  may  easily  estimate  the 
amount  of  various  substances  removed  by 
different  crops,  as  well  as  what  he  has  added  in 
the  shape  of  manures,  and  so  arrive  at  a  know- 
ledge of  the  true  condition  and  real  value  of  his 
lands.  Millions  of  dollars  are  expended  annually 
by  farmers  in  substances  not  needed,  solely  from 
the  foct  that  they  do  not  know  what  they 
already  possess  or  need,  nor  the  constituents  of 
what  they  purchase. 

To  illustrate  this  matter  fully,  we  give  analyses 
of  some  fertile  and  sterile  soils ;  and  as  it  has 
been  shown  that  all  crops  require  silica,  plios- 


106  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

phoric  acid,  sulphuric  acid,  lime,  magnesia, 
oxide  of  iron,  potash,  soda,  chlorine,  oxygen, 
hydrogen,  and  nitrogen,  with  a  certain  amount 
of  decaying  vegetable  matter,  the  farmer  can 
see  why  the  soils  given  as  fertile  are  so,  and 
why  the  others  are  sterile.  As  a  key  to  the 
amounts  of  the  different  substances  contained  in 
the  soil  of  an  acre  of  land,  the  farmer  should 
know  that  every  inch  in  depth  of  an  acre  of 
average  soils,  weighs  about  one  hundred  tons; 
hence  a  soil  ten  inches  deep  would  weigh  just 
one  thousand  tons. 

The  following  is  an  analysis  of  a  very  fertile 
soil,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Zuyder  Zee,  in  Holland, 
as  given  by  the  celebrated  chemist  Mulder. 

Insoluble  sand  with  Alumina 57'646 

Soluble  Silica 2-340 

Alumina,  soluble 1*830 

Peroxide  of  Iron 9*039 

Protoxide  of  Iron 0'350 

Lime 4*092 

Magnesia 0*1 30 

Potash 1*026 

Soda 1*972 

Ammonia 0*060 

Phosphoric  A  cid 0*466 

Sulphuric  Acid.... 0*896 

Carbonic  Acid 6*085 

Chlorine 1*240 

Humus,  or  mould,   vegetable   re- 1 

mains  and  water  chemically  com-  y  12*000 

bined J 

Loss 0*828 

Total 100-000 


FERTILE    SOIL.  107 

This  is  a  most  remarkcably  rich  soil,  and  few 
in  the  world  can  compare  with  it  in  furnishing 
the  raw  material  for  producing  bread  and  meat. 
The  farmer  can  see  at  a  glance^  that  it  contains 
every  substance  necessary  for  the  growth  of 
plants.  As  it  would  be  interesting  to  know  how 
much  of  each  of  the  elements  is  contained  on  an 
acre  of  the  above-mentioned  soil,  assuming  the 
soil  to  be  ten  inches  deep,  and  hence  weighing 
one  thousand  tons,  we  give  the  result  of  the 
calculation,  as  follows : 

Silica  and  Alumina 576'0  tons. 

Soluble  Silica 23-0     " 

Soluble  Alumina 18'0     " 

Peroxide  of  Iron.. 90*0     " 

Protoxide  of  Iron 3-5     " 

Lime 40-0     " 

Magnesia 1-8     " 

Potash 10-0     " 

Soda 19-0     '' 

Ammonia 1200*0  lbs. 

Phosphoric  Acid 4*5  tons. 

Sulphuric  Acid 9-0     *' 

Carbonic  Acid 61*0     " 

Chlorine 12*5     " 

^          Yegetable  remains  and  water , . . .  83*0     " 

The  commercial  value  of  these  quantities  of 
fertilizing  elements  can  easily  be  estimated. 
The  reader  will  notice  that  the  amount  of  lime 
is  four  per  cent.,  or  forty  tons  to  the  acre.  Allow- 
ing that  200  lbs.  may  be  washed  out  and  ap- 
propriated yearly  by  growing  crops,  it  would 

8 


108  AMERICAN    MANURES. 

last  four  hundred  years;  although  the  soil 
would  cease  to  be  fertile  long  before  the  last 
particle  of  lime  was  removed.  The  supply  of 
magnesia  is  small  in  proportion  to  the  other  sub- 
stances, and  as  most  crops  require  more  magnesia 
than  lime,  this  compound  would  be  the  first  ex- 
hausted in  this  soil.  It  will  also  be  seen  that 
there  are  four  and  a  half  tons,  or  9000  lbs.  of 
phosphoric  acid.  Supposing  this  to  be  in  the 
shape  of  bone  phosphate  of  lime,  or  associated 
with  other  bases  in  an  insoluble  form,  and  worth 
four  cents  a  pound,  we  have  three  hundred  and 
sixty  dollars  as  the  value  of  that  article  alone. 

It  is  very  probable  that  this  soil  has  been 
cropped  over  a  thousand  years,  and  still  contains 
within  itself  sufficient  of  every  fertilizing  sub- 
stance to  last  at  least  two  hundred  years  or 
more.  Soils  containing  only  a  tenth  in  quantity 
of  these  necessary  elements  may  be  equally 
fertile,  as  only  a  given  quantity  can  be  assimi- 
lated by  each  yearly  crop,  but  the  difference  in 
quantity  should  be  an  element  in  determining 
the  commercial  value  of  the  land.  The  time 
must  come,  and  is  not  very  distant,  when  the 
price  of  lands  will  be  rated  by  their  composition, 
and  not  merely  their  present  capacity  for  raising 
crops. 

The  following  is  an  analysis  of  a  remarkably 
sterile  soil : 


STERILE    SOIL.  109 

Silica,  with  coarse  Silicioiis  Sand 95-843 

Alumina 0-600 

Protoxide  and  Peroxide  of  Iron 1-800 

Lime  in  combination  with  Silica 0038 

Magnesia 0*006 

Potash  and  Soda 0-005 

Phosphate  of  Iron 0-198  ; 

Sulphuric  Acid 0*002 

Chlorine 0-006 

Humus,  Carbonic  Acid  and  Water. . . .  1-502 

Total 100-000 

The  poverty  of  this  soil  is  apparent  from  the 
small  quantity  of  lime,  magnesia,  potash  and 
phosphoric  acid  found  in  it.  The  addition  of 
marl  was  found  to  have  a  marked  effect  upon  it. 

The  following  is  the  analysis  of  a  soil  that  was 
supposed  to  be  very  barren,  but  which,  after  the 
application  of  land  plaster  or  gypsum,  produced 
large  crops  of  red  clover,  peas,  beans,  etc.  The 
surface  is  a  fine-grained  loamy  soil.  (A)  is  the 
analysis  of  the  surface,  (B)  of  the  subsoil ;  100 
parts  of  each  contained  : 

(A)  (B) 

Silica,  with  Silicious  Sand 90-120  90-324 

Alumina 2-106  2*262 

Peroxide  and  Protoxide  of  Iron..   3-951  2-914 

Peroxide  of  Manganese 0*950  2-960 

Lime 0-539  0-532 

Phosphoric  Acid 0*367  0-122 

Magnesia,  with  Silicate  of  Potash.  0*750  0-340 

Potash 0067  0-304 

Soda 0-010  trace. 

Sulphuric  Acid trace.  0*010 

Chlorine 0*100  0*004 

Humus  and  decaying  veg.  matter..  0*900        

Loss 0-140  0*228 

Total 100*000    100*000 


110  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

The  reader  can  see  at  a  glance  the  lack  of  sul- ' 
phuric  acid  in  the  above  soil.  This  is  the 
reason  that  the  application  of  plaster  had  such  a 
beneficial  effect.  Every  other  element  of  fertil- 
ity was  present^  but  without  sulphuric  acid  it 
was  impossible  for  plants  to  come  to  maturity. 

Hundreds  of  analj'Ses  of  different  soils  might 
be  given,  both  fertile  and  barren,  but  they  would 
only  prove  the  one  great  fact,  that  soils,  to  be 
properly  adapted  to  the  growth  of  plants,  must 
contain  every  element  that  enters  into  their 
composition.  Plants  must  have  the  necessary 
food  to  live  oil,  the  same  as  animals,  as  they 
cannot  create  an  atom  of  any  substance  to  sup- 
port themselves.  Hence,  when  there  is  a  falling 
off  in  the  productiveness  of  a  soil,  the  farmer 
should  first  ascertain  what  element  is  necessary 
to  restore  it,  and  then  add  that  substance,  in  a 
definite  quantity,  because  it  is  only  a  waste  of 
money  to  apply  what  is  not  required. 

Such  a  course  would  lead  to  an  economy  both 
of  the  money  of  the  farmer,  and  also  of  the  ele- 
ments of  fertility.  How  many  farmers  buy  ex- 
pensive manufactured  manures,  Avhen  perhaps 
the  very  things  they  need  lie  wasting  at  their 
own  doors.  The  application  of  lime,  marl, 
muck,  wood  and  even  coal  ashes,  is  sometimes 
attended  with  better  results  than  the  most  ex- 
pensive  phosphates.      When    these    exjoensive 


CHARACTER   OF    SOILS.  Ill 

manures  are  applied  where  something  else  is 
needed,  the  farmer  loses  the  money  invested,  the 
labor  of  applying  them,  and  oftentimes  his  crop, 
by  not  using  the  substance  really  required. 

The  bulk  of  all  soils  consists  of  sand  and  day. 
These  are  general  terms^  and  have  no  reference 
to  the  chemical  properties  of  the  different  parts, 
as  all  granulated  bodies  in  soils  are  termed  sand, 
and  all  tenacious  substances  easily  pulverized 
are  termed  clay. 

Two  specific  terms  are  in  use  to  denote  the 
character  of  soils,  viz : — alluvial  and  diluvial. 
Soils  that  have  been  washed  from  hills  and 
mountains  are  termed  alluvial,  but  if  they  can- 
not be  traced  to  such  a  source,  and  are  elevated 
plains,  or  the  tops  pf  hills  and  mountains,  they 
are  termed  diluvial,  and  must  be  traced  to  the 
action  of  glaciers  or  the  gradual  disintegration  of 
rocks  by  the  action  of  the  elements. 

A  knowledge  of  the  chemical  composition  of 
the  rocks,  from  which  the  sand  and  clay  are 
formed,  will  enable  us  to  judge  correctly  of  the 
kinds  of  minerals  to  be  found  in  the  soil ;  and 
of  their  adaptability  to  the  wants  of  agriculture  ; 
hence,  the  study  of  these  rocks  is  quite  as  im- 
portant as  the  study  of  the  soil  itself. 

The  rocks  essential  to  the  formation  of  fertile 
soils,  and  from  which  they  are  usually  produced, 
are     Granite,     Felspar,     Limestone,     Gypsum, 


112  AMERICAN    MANURES. 

Phosphorite,  Slate  and  Sandstone.  The  relative 
value  of  these  rocks  in  soil  formation  can  be 
seen  when  we  examine  the  nature  of  their  con- 
stituents. 

Granite  belongs  to  the  most  ancient  family  of 
rocks,  which  appear  to  have  originally  formed 
the  basis  of  the  solid  structure  of  the  globe. 
This  mineral  derives  its  name  from  its  marked 
granular  structure,  and  is  a  mixture,  in  variable 
proportions,  of  quartz,  felspar,  and  mica.  These 
grains  vary  considerably  in  size ;  in  some  varie- 
ties,  the  crystals  are  in  uniform  small  grains, 
while  in  other  varieties  the  laminae  of  mica  are 
some  inches  across. 

Quartz,  which  forms  the  transparent  grains 
in  the  granite,  consists  simply  of  silica  (silicic 
acid). 

Felspar,  the  dull  cream-colored  opaque  grains 
in  granite,  generally  contains  silica,  alumina, 
potash,  soda  and  lime. 

Mica,  so  named  from  the  glittering  scales 
which  it  forms  in  the  rock,  is  a  compound  of 
silica,  alumina  and  potash ;  but  in  some  varieties 
the  alumina  is  displaced  by  the  peroxide  or  rust 
of  iron,  and  the  potash  by  magnesia. 

.  By  the  long  continued  action  of  the  atmos- 
phere in  connection  with  rain,  the  granite  rock 
is  gradually  crumbled  down  and  disintegrated, 
an  effect  due  to  both  mechanical  and  chemical 


FELSPAR.  113 

causes.  Mechanically,  the  rock  is  continually 
worn  b}^  strong  winds  loaded  with  minute  par- 
ticles of  sand;  and  by  the  freezing  of  water 
within  its  minute  pores,  small  particles  are  split 
off  by  the  expansion  attending  such  congelation. 
Chemically,  the  action  of  rain  water  containing 
carbonic  acid,  would  remove  the  potash  from  the 
felspar  and  mica,  in  the  form  of  carbonate  of 
potash,  which  removal,  breaking  the  bond  of 
connection  between  the  different  particles  or 
grains,  the  quartz  and  silicate  of  alumina,  on 
combining  with  a  certain  amount  of  water, 
would  form  clay.  Every  hundred  pounds  of 
granite  yield  about  one  pound  of  potash,  which 
is  the  most  valuable  part  of  the  rock  for  the 
purposes  of  vegetation. 

A  cubic  foot  of  pure  felspar  is  sufficient  to 
supply  half  an  acre  of  growing  oak  trees  with 
the  necessary  potash  required,  for  five  years,  if 
it  was  present  in  a  soluble  form.  Each  100  lbs. 
of  this  pure  felspar  contains  16*17  lbs.  of  pot- 
ash, equal  to  24*52  lbs.  of  carbonate  of  potash, 
or,  26*44  lbs.  of  the  muriate. 

Still  this  potash  in  felspar  requires  a  long 
time  to  become  soluble  when  only  acted  on  by 
atmospheric  agencies. 

The  most  important  mineral  ingredient  of  fer- 
tile soils  is  lime,  in  its  different  compounds  of 


114  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

carbonate  of  lime,  sulphate  of  lime  (lime  and 
sulphuric  acid),  and  phosphate  of  lime. 

Cabonate  of  Lime  (common  limestone)  is  the 
chief  constituent  of  the  shells  of  fishes  and  egg 
shells ;  corals  also  consist  of  carbonate  of  lime, 
derived  from  the  skeletons  of  innumerable  min- 
ute insects. 

The  origin  of  the  common  limestones  is  very 
remarkable.  They  are  built  up  from  deposits 
of  the  remains  of  shell-fish  and  coral  insects, 
which  lived  in  ancient  seas,  and  which  having 
been  raised  above  the  surface  by  submarine 
forces,  have  hardened  into  a  rock  by  the  slow 
infiltration  of  water  holding  carbonate  of  lime 
in  solution,  or  by  the  rapid  and  more  powerful 
effect  of  volcanic  heat. 

There  are  few  limestones,  in  which  the  shells 
and  corals  cannot  yet  be  seen  in  form,  more  or 
less  perfect.  They  are  not  found  in  the  purest 
and  most  crystalline  marbles,  because  these 
have  clearly  been  subjected  to  the  action  of  heat 
with  great  pressure,  which  has  obliterated  the 
forms. 

Sulphate  of  Lime,  or  Gypsum,  is  an  important 
ingredient  of  fertile  soils,  as  it  furnishes  two 
elements  necessary  to  plants.  In  some  localities, 
gypsum  is  found  in  immense  beds  or  rocks,  some- 
what similar  in  appearance  to  limestone. 

It  is  ver}^  general Ij^  distributed  in  small  quan- 


SANDSTONES.  115 

titles  in  all  soils.  Most  spring  and  river  waters 
contain  it,  and  in  hard  waters  it  is  often  abund- 
ant, rendering  them  unfit  for  washing  and  culi- 
nary purposes. 

Phosphorite  is  a  mineral  phosphate  of  lime. 
The  presence  of  phosphoric  acid  in  all  cultivated 
soils  may  be  traced  to  this  substance.  Without 
it  no  cultivated  plants  can  come  to  perfection. 
The  source  of  this  substance  in  soils  must  be 
from  the  many  generations  of  animals  that  have 
lived  on  the  earth,  and  whose  bones  have  be- 
come scattered  and  mixed  with  the  soil.  It  is 
also  found  in  the  ancient  unstratified  rocks,  such 
as  the  apatites  of  Canada  and  Northern  New 
York,  the  phosphatic  guano  beds  of  South  Caro 
lina,  and  other  places.  Many  of  these  rocks 
contain  a  larger  amount  of  phosphoric  acid  than 
the  same  weight  of  bones.  As  these  rocks  slow- 
ly crumble  down  in  the  soil^  the  phosphates,  if 
they  become  soluble,  are  taken  up  by  plants. 

Sandstones  are  a  great  source  of  the  inorganic 
materials  in  soils.  They  are  of  various  formations, 
and  their  composition  is  not  at  all  arbitrary; 
alumina,  silica,  carbonate  of  lime,  oxide  of  iron, 
and  other  substances,  are  found  in  various 
proportions  in  the  different  varieties.  The  co- 
hesion of  the  particles  is  sometimes  caused  by  a 
sort  of  semi-fusion,  as  in  the  common  grit  or 
burr  stones,  while  in  other  varieties  the  cohesion 


116  AMERICAN    MANURES. 

is  eflfected  by  the  infiltration  of  some  substance 
in  solution.  These  are  the  freestones,  red-sand- 
stones, etc.  Most  sandstones  are  easily  dis- 
integrated by  the  elements,  and  form  soils 
rapidly,  the  value  of  which  is  governed  by  the 
constituent  elements  of  the  stone. 

Soils  are  named  from  the  relative  proportions 
of  their  constituents.  One  hundred  parts  of  dry 
ordinary  soil,  containing  only  ten  of  clay,  would 
be  termed  a  sandy  soil.  If  it  contained  from 
ten  to  thirty  or  forty  parts  of  clay,  it  would  be 
d  sandy  loam  ;  if  from  forty  to  seventy  parts  of 
clay,  it  would  be  a  loamy  soil ;  from  seventy  to 
eighty-five  of  clay,  a  clay  loam  ;  from  eighty-five 
to  ninety  of  clay,  a  strong  clay^  fit  for  making 
bricks ;  if  it  contains  no  sand  it  would  be  pure 
agricultural  clay,  or  pipe-clay.  If  a  soil  contains 
more  than  five  per  cent,  of  lime,  it  is  termed  a 
marly  soil ;  if  more  than  twenty  per  cent.,  a 
calcareous  soil.  The  rust  of  iron  forms  two  or 
three  per  cent,  of  most  sandy  soils,  and  in  red 
soils  much  more. 

Farmers  must  have  noticed  that  some  soils 
assume  a  darker  color  or  deeper  red,  under 
cultivation.  These  soils  contain  a  large  amount 
of  the  first  oxide  of  iron,  which  is  injurious  to 
vegetation.  The  frequent  exposure  of  such  soils 
to  the  oxygen  of  the  atmosphere,  changes  this 
first  oxide  to  the  peroxide,  as  previously  stated. 


MOULD.  117 

The  foregoing  account  of  the  sources  of  in- 
organic substances  in  soils,  shows  that  the  soil 
acquires  from  rocks  alumina,  silica  or  sand, 
phosphoric  acid,  sulphuric  acid,  lime,  magnesia, 
oxide  of  iron,  potash,  soda;  all  being  indispensable 
ingredients  for  the  growth  of  plants.  These  sub- 
stances are  all  termed  mineral  or  inorganic. 

Mould  will  now  be  considered.  It  is  popu- 
larly supposed  to  be  the  organic  portion  of  soils. 
If  the  leaves  that  fall  from  the  trees,  and  the 
vegetation  that  dies  yearly  on  the  approach  of 
winter,  did  not  rot  or  decay,  or  become  resolved 
into  their  original  elements,  the  accumulation 
would  interfere  with  the  subsequent  growth  of 
plants.  The  decomposition  of  organic  remains 
is  governed  by  fixed  laws.  All  plants  after  they 
die  undergo  two  processes  of  decomposition ;  first, 
fermentation,  then  putrefaction  or  decay.  These 
changes  are  somewhat  analogous  to  those  pro- 
duced by  a  smouldering  fire,  and  the  product 
of  this  decay  is  very  appropriately  termed  mould. 
This  process  of  decay  or  mouldering  is  the  im- 
perceptible union  of  the  oxygen  of  the  air  with 
the  carbon  of  the  plant ;  but  it  proceeds  so  slowly 
that  it  produces  only  in  a  very  slight  degree  the 
effects  of  ordinary  combustion,  that  is  light  and 
heat;  .still  the  results  are  the  same,  with  the  ex- 
ception that  it  is  not  carried  to  the  same  extent. 

Tlie    completG   burning  of   vegetation    leaves 


118  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

nothing  but  the  mineral  or  iiiorganic  elements 
in  the  form  of  ash;  the  carbon,  oxygen,  hydrogen, 
and  nitrogen,  passing  off  in  a  gaseous  form ;  on  the 
contrary,  the  slow  combustion  that  takes  place 
under  the  ordinary  processes  of  decay,  is  limited 
by  the  small  amount  of  oxygen  that  can  come 
in  contact  with  the  carbon.  A  part  of  this 
oxj^gen  is  furnished  by  the  decomposition  of  the 
water  present ;  the  oxygen  thus  liberated  unites 
with  the  carbon  to  form  carbonic  acid,  and  the 
hydrogen  unites  with  nitrogen  to  form  ammonia. 
Inasmuch  as  the  decomposed  remains  of  all 
the  parts  of  any  plant  contain  all  the  inorganic, 
with  a  portion  of  the  organic  elements  originally 
contained  in  it,  these  remains  would  furnish  a 
most  efficient  manure  for  the  production  of  other 
plants  of  the  same  species.  But  if  we  desire  to 
grow  another  kind  of  plant,  requiring  a  larger 
amount  of  one  or  more  of  the  elements,  the  de- 
ficiency must  be  supplied,  or,  if  a  part  of  the 
plants  be  removed  from  the  soil,  the  elements 
contained  in  that  part  must  be  renewed  by  a 
manure.  Wheat  serves  as  an  example.  The 
g?'ain,  which  contains  the  largest  amount  of  the 
most  valuable  elements  of  fertility,  is  removed ; 
and  even  should  all  the  straw  be  returned  to  the 
soil  in  a  decomposed  state,  it  would  evidently 
lack  the  amount  of  the  elements  contained  in  the 
grain.     Hence  the  necessity  of  applying,  in   a 


ASSIMILATION   OF    CARBON.  119 

cheaper  form^  the  substances  that  will  furnish 
the  different  elements  removed  in  the  grain  is 
apparent. 

Humus  is  the  technical  term  used  to  designate 
the  mould  or  brown  eartliy  part  of  soils.  As  this 
substance  has  partially  lost  the  power  of  as- 
similating oxygen,  and  giving  forth  carbonic 
acid  gas,  it  is  almost  a  fixed  substance.  Its 
special  oflSce  is  that  of  a  mechanical  medium  for 
the  absorption  and  retention  of  heat,  moisture, 
and  fertilizing  gases ;  also  that  of  a  mechanical 
support  to  the  structure  of  the  plant. 

The  hulh  or  mass  of  vegetation  is  not  fur- 
nished by  the  soil.  Generally  the  largest  part 
of  the  mass  is  water  or  its  elements;  a  large  part 
also  is  carbon.  Many  ingenious  experiments 
have  been  made  to  determine  the  source  of  car- 
bon in  vegetation.  They  have  resulted  in  estab- 
lishing the  fact  that  it  is  furnished  almost  en- 
tirely, if  not  wholly,  by  the  carbonic  acid  in  the 
atmosphere  and  soil.  It  is  true  that  humic  acid 
— a  compound  of  humus  and  oxygen,  containing 
58  per  cent,  of  carbon — will  form  soluble  com- 
pounds with  potash,  soda  and  lime.  Both  Mal- 
aguti  and  Sprengel  say  that  1  lb.  of  lime  com- 
bines with  12  lbs.  of  humic  acid,  and  thus  every 
pound  of  lime  thus  combined  might  be  the  ve- 
hicle to  furnish  7  lbs.  of  carbon  to  the  plant 
But  as  only  15  J  lbs.  of  lime  enter  into  the  com- 


120  AMERICAN    MANURES. 

position  of  25  bushels  of  wheat,  only  107  lbs.  of 
carbon  could  possibly  be  furnished  in  this  way. 
As  there  are  2377  lbs.  of  carbon  in  25  bushek 
of  wheat  and  the  straW;,  not  the  one-twentieth 
part  required  could  be  thus  supplied.  We  will 
ascertain  what  amount  could  be  supplied  by  the 
agency  of  rain  water.  The  rain-fall  from  the 
first  of  April  to  the  first  of  October — the  time 
during  which  plants  are  coming  to  maturity — is 
on  an  average  about  1,000,000  lbs.  to  an  acre. 
Now,  experiments  have  demonstrated  that  1,000,- 
000  lbs.  will  render  soluble  only  10  lbs.  of  car- 
bon ;  so  that  only  10  lbs.  could  be  thus  furnished, 
even  if  every  pound  of  the  water  is  taken  up  by 
the  roots,  which  is  far  from  being  the  case.  The 
trees  of  the  forest  and  the  grass  of  the  meadow 
rarely  receive  any  carbon  in  the  shape  of  ma- 
nure ;  and  yet  there  is  no  lack  of  it,  though  car- 
bon is  taken  away  every  year  in  the  form  of 
wood  and  hay.  From  all  this  we  conclude  that 
manures  are  not  needed  to  furnish  carbon,  and 
that  the  atmosphere  is  capable  of  furnishing  all 
that  vegetation  requires. 

Immense  quantities  of  carbonic  acid  are  con- 
stantly supplied  to  the  atmosphere  by  our  fires 
and  furnaces,  by  fermentation  and  the  decay  of 
animal  and  vegetable  substances,  as  well  as  by 
the  respiration  of  men  and  animals.  Is  it  not 
wonderful  that  this  carbonic  acid,  so  fatal  to  ani- 


PHYSICAL   DEFECTS    IN    SOILS.  121 

mals,  though  largely  produced  by  them,  is  so  ne- 
cessary to  plants  that  they  may  almost  be  said 
to  subsist  upon  it ;  absorbing  it  from  the  air,  and 
decomposing  it  by  their  leaves  in  the  sunshine, 
in  such  a  manner  as  to  retain  the  carbon  and 
liberate  the  oxygen,  which  thus  becomes  fitted 
for  the  purposes  of  combustion  and  respiration. 
Were  it  not  for  the  absorption  of  carbonic  acid 
by  plants,  the  air  would  become  unfit  for  respir- 
ation, and  all  animal  life  would  perish  from  the 
face  of  the  earth. 

Since  carbonic  acid  is  so  important  as  food  for 
vegetables,  it  is  interesting  to  know  how^  much 
of  it  is  available  in  the  atmosphere — in  other 
words,  to  estimate  the  stocic  on  hand.  The 
amount  in  weight  is  nearly  the  one-thousandth 
part  of  the  weight  of  the  atmosphere,  and  accor- 
ding to  the  calculation  of  Liebig,  the  amount  of 
carbon  contained  is  more  than  3081  billions  of 
pounds — a  w^eight  exceeding  that  of  all  the  veg- 
etation and  all  the  strata  of  mineral  and  brown 
soil  on  the  face  of  the  earth.  Nor  has  this  vast 
amount  been  perceptibly  lessened  since  the  me- 
thod of  estimating  its  amount  was  discovered, 
because  it  is  being  constantly  supplied  from  the 
sources  previously  stated,  as  fast  as  it  is  appro- 
priated by  vegetation. 

The  physical  condition  of  soils,  and  their  ca- 
pacity for  retaining  heat  and  moisture,  is  a  sub- 


122  AxMERICAN   MANURES. 

ject  too  often  neglected  in  this  country.  Some 
rich  soils  fail  to  produce  good  crops,  from  a  defi- 
ciency in  these  properties.  The  addition  of  lime, 
marl,  clay,  and  swamp-muck,  will  greatly  im- 
prove such  soils.  Should  there  be  an  excess  of 
moisture,  as  in  low  swampy  land,  surface  ajDpli- 
cations  cannot  benefit  it  much,  and  the  farmer 
must  resort  to  drainage  to  remove  the  difficulty. 
These  are  important  considerations,  and  are  de- 
serving of  a  more  extended  notice  than  we  can 
give  them  in  this  book. 

Sandy  soils  have  been  greatly  benefited  by 
the  addition  of  even  small  amounts  of  clay,  thus 
correcting  their  porosity  and  leaching  tendency, 
and  verifying  the  truth  of  the  old  saying,  that 

"  Clay  upon  sand 
Makes  very  good  land." 

On  the  contrary,  very  little  benefit  results  from 
the  application  of  sand  to  heavy  tenacious  soils, 
as  the  amount  required  to  produce  any  real 
change  is  so  large,  that  the  farmer  could  not  pos- 
sibly be  repaid  for  his  labor ;  or,  as  expressed  in 
the  following  equally  terse  saying, 

*'  Sand  upon  clay 
Is  money  thrown  away." 


CHAPTER  V. 

THE  MONEY  VALUE  OF  FERTILIZERS,  CALCULATED 
FROM  THE  MARKET  VALUE  OF  THE  RAW  MATERI- 
ALS AND  COST  OF  MANUFACTURING ;  WITH  GEN- 
ERAL REMARKS  ON  THE  BUSINESS. 

This  book^  being  intended  to  guard  the  interest 
of  the  farmer,  and  expose  the  frauds  practised 
by  unscrupulous  manufacturers  and  dealers  in 
commercial  fertilizers,  the  first  step  towards 
effecting  this  much  desired  object  is,  to  show  the 
value  of  those  essential  elements  of  fertility,  the 
quantity  and  condition  of  which,  in  fertilizers, 
should  properly  fix  their  price. 

The  prices  of  different  commercial  fertilizers 
range  from  $30  to  $75  per  ton.  These  various 
prices  are  erroneously  supposed  to  represent  their 
value,  estimated  from  the  cost  of  the  raw  mate- 
rial, cost  of  manufacturing,  and  a  fair  margin  of 
profit.  There  has  been  but  little  fluctuation  in 
the  prices  of  these  fertilizers.  It  has  made  no 
difference  whether  wheat  was  worth  $2.50  or 
$1.50  per  bushel,  they  have  still  maintained  the 
same  prices.  But  as  this  manufactured  article 
^  123 


124  AMERICA!^   MANURES. 

may  properly  be  regarded  as  a  raw  material  for 
the  production  of  commodities  that  have  a  flue 
tuating  price^  regulated  by  the  general  laws  of 
demand  and  supply,  the  price  of  this  raw  mate- 
rial should  be  regulated  by  the  price  of  the  pro- 
ducts of  the  farm.  A  little  consideration  will 
convince  any  one  of  the  justness  of  this  course. 
The  price  of  labor  naturally  fluctuates  with  the 
price  of  bread ;  at  one  time  it  was  customary  in 
this  country  to  consider  a  bushel  of  wheat,  or  its 
equivalent  in  money,  a  fair  price  for  a  day's  labor. 
As  the  price  of  the  other  necessaries  of  life  fluc- 
tuates in  about  the  same  proportion  as  farm  pro- 
duce, the  condition  of  the  laborer  was  unchanged 
by  any  rise  or  fall  in  the  price  of  wheat.  Al- 
though this  rule  is  not  strictly  followed  at  the 
present  time,  still  the  price  of  labor  is  regulated, 
in  a  great  degree,  by  the  varying  prices  of  bread. 
Now,  as  there  are  unlimited  quantities  of  the 
raw  material  required  for  the  manufacture  of 
fertilizers,  their  price  when  manufactured  should 
be  regulated  by  the  cost  of  the  labor  required  to 
procure  and  manufacture  them.  The  earth  con- 
tains vast  stores  of  the  elements  of  fertility ;  all 
that  is  needed  is  labor  and  capital  to  develop 
and  utilize  them.  And  as  this  business  is  iden- 
tical with  other  mining  and  manufacturing  en- 
terprises, the  parties  engaged  in  it  should  be  sat- 
isfied  with   legitimate   profits.      But   as   those 


MINERAL   PHOSPHATES.  125 

engaged  in  the  mining  of  these  raw  materials  for 
fertilizers  are  rarely  manufacturers,  justice  de- 
mands that  we  should  state  that  the  prices 
demanded  for  them  barely  covers  the  cost  of  pro- 
duction, and  that  the  producers  are  in  no  manner 
benefited  by  the  exorbitant  priees  realized  by  the 
manufacturers.  The  recent  discoveries  of  phos- 
phatic  guanos  in  various  places  have  led  to  a 
sharp  competition  between  the  parties  engaged 
in  mining  this  raw  material.  This  competition 
is  a  great  advantage  to  the  manufacturers,  and 
annually  puts  a  large  amount  of  money  into 
their  pockets ;  a^id  besides,  they  are  the  only 
parties  benefited,  as  they  charge  just  as  much 
for  a  superphosphate  of  lime  manufactured  from 
Charleston  guano,  that  costs  them  from  eight  to 
twelve  dollars  a  ton,  as  they  formerly  charged  for 
the  same  article  manufactured  from  bones,  cost- 
ing from  twenty  to  thirty  dollars  a  ton. 

As  yet,  our  farmers  have  derived  no  benefit 
from  these  valuable  discoveries  of  mineral 
guanos,  which,  if  properly  applied,  will  restore 
our  impoverished  lands  to  their  virgin  richness 
and  fertility.  But  the  interests  of  the  public 
imperatively  demand  a  change.  The  farmer 
need  not  pay  manufacturers  exorbitant  prFces 
for  their  manures.  He  should  and  can  procure 
the  crude  guanos  from  the  miners  and  dealers ; 
the  grinding  and  subsequent  preparation  is  easily 


126  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

performed.  Thus,  a  saving  of  nearly  fifty  per 
cent,  of  the  money  now  paid  to  these  manufac- 
turers might  be  effected.  The  application  of  a 
manufactured  manure  is  very  often  considered 
an  experiment  by  farmers ;  they  use  it  doubt- 
ingly,  not  expecting  to  be  benefited  in  propor- 
tion to  the  amount  invested.  This  lack  of 
confidence  is  caused  by  the  high  prices  charged, 
and  the  suspected  immense  profits  of  the  manu- 
facturers. For  these  reasons  many  who  really 
need  fertilizers,  and  who  would  be  benefited  by 
their  use,  even  as  they  are  now  made,  and  at 
their  present  exorbitant  prices,  look  on  them 
with  distrust  and  try  to  get  along  without  them. 
It  requires  no  stretch  of  fancy  to  picture  the 
condition  of  this  country,  which  has  not  unaptly 
been  termed  the  granary  of  the  world,  if  those 
needed  fertilizers  were  manufactured  honestly, 
and  fair  prices  asked,  so  as  to  make  them  popu- 
lar with  all  the  farming  community.  So  far 
their  use  has  been  comparatively  confined  to  a 
few,  and  hence  commercial  fertilizers  have  not 
that  effect  on  the  prosperity  and  productiveness 
of  the  country  they  should  have.  Besides,  if  a 
good  article  had  been  generally  made,  and  sold  at 
a  fair  price,  the  amount  used  would  be  enormous, 
and  the  aggregate  amount  of  money  made  by  the 
manufacturers  much  greater  thanitis;  and  the  far- 
mer, at  the  same  time,  would  have  been  corres- 


SMALL   AMOUNTS    REQUIRED.  127 

pondingly  benefited.  But  in  their  haste  to  get  rich 
by  exorbitant  profits,  these  manufacturers  have 
displayed  the  wisdom  of  the  old  woman  of  the 
fable,  who  "  hilled  the  goose  that  laid  the  golden 
eggsr 

The  reader  has  been  shown  that  the  elements 
of  fertility  supposed  to  be  furnished  by  these 
manures,  form  but  a  small  portion  of  the  produce 
of  an  acre.  He  has  been  shown  that  28  lbs.  of 
phosphoric  acid,  40  lbs.  of  potash,  and  58  lbs.  of 
ammonia,  are  the  amounts  of  these  substances 
needed  to  produce  25  bushels  of  wheat  with  the 
straw,  and  if  none  of  these  substances  were  con- 
tained in  the  soil,  the  above  amounts  must  be 
applied  in  some  shape  to  insure  the  raising  of 
such  a  crop.  If  the  reader  will  turn  to  the  Tables 
of  Analyses  in  Chapter  VII.,  he  will  there  see 
that  even  800  lbs.  of  some  of  the  most  celebrated 
manures  of  these  manufactures,  do  not  contain  a 
sufficient  amount  of  the  above  substances  in 
proper  condition. 

But  would  it  pay  the  farmer  to  apply  800 
lbs.  of  a  manure  that  costs  $50  per  ton,  to 
raise  25  bushels  of  wheat?  Certainly  not;  800 
lbs.  would  cost  |20,  and  after  paying  for  seed 
and  labor,  and  allowing  interest  on  the  money 
invested  in  the  land,  his  profit  would  be 
reduced  to  a  very  small  amount — to  nothing — 
or  less  than  nothing; — he  would  be  in  debt. 


128  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

Some  farmers^  being  accustomed  to  think  of  man- 
ures as  a  bulky  article,  carmot  see  that  a  large 
crop  should  be  expected  from  the  application  of 
400  lbs.  of  so-called  concentrated  fertilizers  to 
an  acre ;  and  if  it  perchance  happens,  it  excites 
their  wonder.  We  intend  to  prove  that  the  ap- 
plication of  large  bulks  of  manure  is  not  necessary 
to  the  raising  of  large  crops.  A  little  of  the  siib- 
stance  needed  is  better  than  a  good  deal  of  ichat 
■is  not  needed,  A  system  of  intelligent  manuring 
would  greatly  lessen  the  labor  of  its  application, 
and  save  large  sums  of  money  expended  in 
transporting  what  is  Worthless;  400  lbs.  is  not 
required  for  an  acre,  if  the  manure  is  properly 
prepared.  We  will  show  conclusively  that  100 
lbs.  of  bones  can  be  made  more  valuable  as  a 
manure,  than  400  lbs.  of  many  of  the  leading 
fertilizers.  But  we  regret  to  say  that  the 
farmers  themselves  encourage  these  impositions ; 
they  want  bulk  and  weight  for  their  money,  and 
overlook  the  quality  of  the  article.  The  manu- 
facturers are  accommodating,  and  they  give  it, 
i.e.,  a  good'  deal  {in  hulk)  for  their  money.  There 
are  several  manures  in  the  market  that  have  a 
good  reputation  for  quality,  and  the  manu- 
facturers of  which  have  a  fair  reputation  for 
honesty,  and  yet  their  manures  will  not  yield 
10  lbs.  in  the  100  of  the  substances  really 
needed,  and  in  proper  condition  to  benefit  the 


DECEPTIONS    OF    MANUFACTURERS.  129 

growing  crop.  Nay,  some  of  them,  not  even  6 
lbs.  to  the  100,  and  are  barely  worth  the  price 
of  the  bags  and  transportation ;  the  good  results 
that  sometimes  attend  their  use  can  only  be  ac- 
counted for  by  a  favorite  expression  of  a  leading 
manufacturer  of  just  such  manures,  well  known 
to  the  writers,  viz  :  "Mature  does  a  great  deal 
for  tis/^  Our  farmers  too  often  give  these  man- 
ures the  credit  for  doing  what  is  done  by  the 
ingredients  contained  in  their  soil;  just  as  the 
patient  oftentimes  has  far  more  faith  in  the 
medicine  than  the  doctor,  who  generally  trusts 
to  nature  and  a  strong  constitution  to  effect  a 
cure.  How  much  better  would  it  be  to  purchase 
the  6,  10  or  20  lbs.  of  the  really  valuable  and 
only  needed  part  of  these  dilute^  milk-and-water 
fertilizers ;  and  if  it  is  desired,  increase  the  bulk 
at  home,  thus  saving  the  cost  of  bags  and  trans- 
portation ? 

These  manufacturers  are  very  careful  to  tell 
yoih  how  much  solid)le  phosphoric  acid,  and  how 
much  insoluble  that  will  become  soluble  in  the 
soil  (they  forget  to  say  in  ten  to  twenty  years), 
and  how  much  potash  and  ammonia  their  article 
contains,  or  more  correctly  speaking,  should  con- 
tain; but  they  are  careful  7iot  to  report  the 
amount  of  water,  salt  cake,  and  land  plaster  that 
is  mixed  with  it.  Like  the  Pharisee,  they 
loudly  proclaim   their  good  qualities,  but  the 


130  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

much  needed  and  appropriate  invocation  of  the 
Publican  is  never  practised  by  them. 

The  writers  are  fully  cognizant  of  the  fact, 
that  some  manufacturers  have  realized  thousands 
of  dollars  yearly,  by  the  sale  of  the  water  alone 
contained  in  their  product;  and  that  gas-lime, 
costing  four  cents  a  bushel,  has  been  mixed  with 
what  was  called  superphosphate  of  lime,  and  sold 
for  two  to  three  cents  per  pound.  In  this  case, 
it  is  difficult  to  tell  whether  most  to  condemn  - 
their  consummate  dishonesty,  or  pity  their  super- 
lative ignorance.  It  is  almost  beyond  belief, 
that  men  in  this  enlightened  age,  should  be  so 
ignorant  of  the  requirements  of  their  business,  as 
to  spend  large  sums  of  money  in  the  purchase  of 
sulphuric  acid  to  render  phosphoric  acid  soluble, 
and  also  pay  a  high  price  for  Peruvian  Guano  to 
ammoniate;  and  then  apply  semi-caustic  lime, 
thus  sending  the  little  soluble  phosphoric  acid 
produced  back  into  its  insoluble  state,  and  at  the 
same  time  dissipating  the  ammonia,  thus  render- 
ing the  manure  almost  worthless.  The  reader 
who  has  fully  considered  the  theory  of  the  manu- 
facture or  preparation  of  superphosphate  of  lime, 
will  readily  see  the  pertinence  of  the  above 
remarks. 

During  the  past  two  or  three  years,  the  com- 
mon expressions  of  these  manufacturers  have 
been,    "the   day   of.  large   profits   is  past — the 


PRESENT   CONDITION   OF    MANUFACTURERS.   131 

farmers  are  getting  more  careful  and  cautious  in 
purchasing  fertilizers — they  must  know  what  it 
contains  before  they  buy."  We  shall  show  the 
reader  the  cost  to  the  manufacturer,  and  real 
value  to  the  farmer,  of  the  so  called  improved 
manures,  manufactured  to  suit  the  increased 
caution  of  buyers,  and  causing,  as  the  manu- 
facturers say,  greatly  reduced  profits.  When  we 
have  done  this,  one  can  readily  imagine  what 
the  profits  of  this  fertilizing  business  was,  in  the 
good  old  times  of  salt  cake,  land  plaster,  gas- 
lime,  marl,  and  even  coal  ashes.  The  reader 
can  see  from  the  analyses  of  many  of  these  im- 
proved manures,  that  the  greedy  appetite  for 
extortionate  gain  manifested  by  manufacturers, 
has  grown  by  what  it  fed  on. 

But  if  this  investigating  and  cautious  spirit 
exhibited  by  the  farmer  has  not  materially 
benefited  him,  by  inducing  the  manufacturers  to 
make  a  better  article,  it  has  had  one  good  effect, 
that  of  greatly  reducing  their  sales ;  thus  proving 
that  though  fraud  and  deceit  may  flourish  for  a 
season,  yet  a  day  of  reckoning  will  come :  "  The 
mills  of  the  gods  grind  slow,  but  exceeding  fine." 
The  present  condition  of  some  of  these  manu- 
facturers who,  last  winter,  made  large  prepara- 
tions for  heavy  sales  in  the  South,  and  increased 
sales  in  the  Eastern  and  Middle  States,  this 
spring,  and  whose  factories  and  storehouses  are 


132  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

now  groaning  under  the  weight  of  the  raw  and 
manufactured  material,  that  was  expected  ere 
this  to  have  been  sold,  and  the  profits  pocketed, 
should  disarm  the  resentment  of  the  heretofore 
cheated  purchasers,  and  leave  nothing  more  to 
be  desired  even  by  the  most  vindictive  spirit. 

These  wholesale  Peter  Funks  have  too  long 
imposed,  their  bogus  compounds  upon  a  confiding 
community.  We  hope  and  believe  that  the 
information  given  in  our  book  will  have  its 
effect,  in  dejDriving  them  of  the  opportunity  for 
further  wrong  doing ;  and  we  may  even  hope 
against  hope,  that  they  themselves  may  be 
brought  to  a  proper  sense  of  their  dishonesty. 
As  for  ourselves,  we  have  only  a  common  interest 
in  performing  a  common  duty ;  for  when  a  wrong 
is  perpetrated  on  communities  or  the  people  at 
large,  no  private  person  has  the  right  to  cover 
up  or  condone  the  offence ;  but  it  is  the  duty  of 
all  alike,  to  the  full  extent  of  their  knowledge 
and  ability,  to  aid  in  bringing  the  offenders  to 
justice  and  punishment,  and  especially  is  it  a 
duty  in  a  case  like  this,  which  affects  the  most 
vital  interests  of  all — the  production  of  the  neces- 
saries of  life.  And  besides  this,  the  deserved  pre- 
judices that  have  been  produced  against  the  use 
of  commercial  fertilizers,  if  not  intelligently 
directed,  will  undoubtedly  prove  a  national 
calamity. 


A    LESSON    TO   OUR   FARMERS.  133 

Our  agricultural  reports,  showing  the  average 
produce  of  an  acre  in  the  States,  is  quite  a  sorry 
comment  on  our  boasted  system  of  agriculture. 
What  a  waste  of  ill-requited  labor  !  What  a 
return  on  the  capital  invested  !  It  is  calculated 
that  two-thirds  of  our  population  are  engaged  in 
cultivating  the  soil,  and  that  three-fourths  of  the 
capital  of  the  country  is  invested  in  farm  lands, 
and  the  stock  and  implements  of  husbandry.  It 
is  of  momentous  national  interest,  that  this  vast 
amount  of  labor  and  capital  should  be  adequately 
remunerated.  How  is  this  to  be  done?  The 
answer  is  plain  :  By  an  intelligent  and  economi- 
cal system  of  manuring. 

The  reason  why  our  lands  do  not  produce  as 
much  as  those  of  other  countries,  the  following 
facts  will  fully  explain  :  Last  year,  England, 
that  does  not  contain  a  much  larger  area  of  cul- 
tivated land  than  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  im- 
ported, of 

Peruvian  Guano 150*000  tons 

Nitrate  of  Soda 33-216    " 

Bones  and  Bone  Ash 73*231    " 

Phosphatic  Guano 100*000    '' 

Total 356*447  tons. 

In  addition  to  the  above,  there  were  large 
quantities  of  muriate  of  potash  imported  from 
Germany.  If  to  this  we  add  the  large  amounts 
of  sulphate  of  ammonia  produced  at  home,  and 


154  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

the  immense  amount  of  concentrated  manures 
prepared  from  the  bones,  night  soil,  and  other 
waste  products  of  the  kingdom,  it  will  swell  the 
grand  total  of  commercial  manures  used  by  the 
farmers  of  England,  to  over  800,000  tons  a  year — 
a  larger  amount  than  is  used  in  the  whole 
United  States  of  America.  That  the  use  of  this 
large  amount  of  the  elements  of  fertility  applied 
to  the  soil  amply  repays  the  farmer,  we  cannot 
question  for  a  moment.  We  quote  the  following 
from  the  last  year  s  report  of  a  leading  manufac- 
turer in  England  : 

"  Most  wonderful  strides  have  been  made 
within  the  past  few  years  in  the  use  of  bone  ma- 
terial for  manurial  purposes.  Manure  manufac- 
tories have  sprung  up  in  all  parts  of  the  country, 
where  formerly  they  were  unknown ;  and  not- 
withstanding that  there  is  no  decrease  in  the 
average  importations  of  the  past  five  years,  the 
keen  competition  that  exists  among  manufactur- 
ers for  supplies  of  the  raw  material,  has  at  length 
forced  prices  to  the  most  extreme  point  which 
they  have  yet  attained.  Towards  the  close  of 
last  season,  the  utmost  difficulty  was  experienced 
in  getting  supplies  to  meet  the  most  moderate 
requirements,  and  the  stocks  of  manufacturers 
were  entirely  cleared.  The  new  season  was 
ushered  in  with  great  excitement  in  the  trade  ; 
fears  being  generally  entertained  that  the  sup- 


VALUATION   OF   MANURES.  135 

plies  would  fall  far  short  of  the  demand,  and 
consequently  a  large  amount  of  business  was 
done  at  even  higher  prices  than  what  prevailed 
before  the  close  of  last  season.  This  advance 
has  been  fully  maintained,  and  as  there  cannot 
be  a  doubt  that  the  supplies  will  fall  far  short 
of  the  requirements  of  manufacturers,  a  further 
advance  is  imminent  before  the  consumptive  de- 
mand sets  in." 

How  different  is  the  condition  of  our  manufac- 
turers, whose  factories  are  glutted  with  their  old 
stock,  notwithstanding  the  extraordinary  induce- 
ments offered  to  purchasers.  The  reason  of  this 
state  of  things  may  be  traced  to  two  causes : 
First,  The  exorbitant  prices  asked ;  Second, 
The  inferior  quality  of  the  fertilizers. 

We  shall  now  proceed  to  a  discussion  of  the 
value  of  commercial  manures,  estimating  from 
the  amount  and  condition  of  the  fertilizing  sub- 
stances contained  in  them.  Their  value  has 
commonly  been  estimated  from  the  prices  of  the 
same  substances  in  Peruvian  Guano.  Professor 
Way,  in  an  article  published  in  the  Journal  of 
the  Royal  Agricultural  Society,  England,  says, 
that  the  money  value  of  a  ton  of  Peruvian  Guano 
is  $58.58  ;  its  ammonia  being  worth  $46.95,  the 
phosphate  of  lime  $8.16,  and  the  potash  $1.12. 
He  says  that  ammonia  is  worth  12  cents  a  pound 
for  producing  wheat  at  $1.25  a  bushel.     Bone- 


136  AMERICAN    MANURES. 

phosphate  of  lime  is  worth  li  cent  per  pound, 
and  potash  6i  cents  for  agricultural  purposes. 
This  celebrated  chemist  has  confined  his  calcu- 
lations to  the  amount  of  these  materials  as  found 
in  Peruvian  Guano.  But  at  this  time,  this  is  too 
limited  a  basis  from  which  to  estimate  their 
value,  as  there  are  other  sources  from  which 
these  three  substances  can  be  procured ;  and  as 
respects  phosphoric  acid  and  potash,  more 
cheaply  than  in  Peruvian  Guano. 

Professor  Way  has  estimated  lOJ  cents  per 
pound  as  a  fair  price  for  soluble  phosphoric  acid ; 
Dr.  Voelcker,  of  the  Royal  Agricultural  College, 
of  England,  and  Dr.  Stoeckhardt,  the  distin- 
guished Saxon  Agricultural  Chemist,  give  it  a 
value  of  12i  cents  per  pound.  These  prices  are 
deduced  from  the  prices  of  the  best  commercial 
superphosphates.  Dr.  Johnson,  in  his  essay  on 
manures,  in  commenting  on  these  prices,  says : 
"This,  I  believe,  is  considerably  more  than  it  is 
really  worth,  but  is  probably  the  lowest  rate  at 
which  it  can  now  be  purchased."  This  remark 
would  seem  to  imply  an  utter  helplessness  on 
his  part  to  suggest  any  remedy  for  the  prices 
demanded.  We  shall  review  these  opinions  re- 
specting the  value  of  phosphoric  acid.  Dr. 
Voelcker  s  and  Dr.  Stoeckhardt's  •  mode  of  fixing 
the  price  of  soluble  phosphoric  acid,  from  the 
amount  of  this  substance  contained  in,  and  the 


VALUATION    OF    PHOSPHORIC    ACID.  137 

prices  asked  for,  the  best  commercial  superphos- 
phates, might  do  for  Enghind  and  Saxony,  where 
manufacturers  have  done  all  they  can  to  improve 
and  perfect  manures  and  superphosphates,  and 
make  as  good  an  article  as  possible  for  ttie  money. 
But  to  take  such  a  standard  to  estimate  the  value 
of  general  American  superphosphates,  where  an 
entirely  different  state  of  things  prevails,  would 
be  simply  ridiculous ;  hence,  we  shall  proceed  to 
estimate  from  a  different  basis. 

At  the  present  time  the  valuable  materials 
used  in  the  manufacture  of  commercial  manures 
and  superphosphate  of  lime,  are  Bones,  Mineral 
Guanos  or  Phosphorite,  Peruvian  Guano,  Crude 
Sulphate  of  Ammonia,  Muriate  and  Sulphate  of 
Potash. 

There  are  only  three  substances  that  serve  as 
a  basis  for  fixing  the  value  of  commercial  man- 
ures. These  are  Phosphoric  Acid,  Ammonia 
and  Potash.  Most  of  the  other  substances  used, 
such  as  Salt  Cake,  Gypsum,  etc.,  are  a  source 
of  actual  loss  to  the  former,  because  he  has  to 
pay  2  J  cents  or  more  per  lb.  for  them  when 
mixed  with  superphosphate  of  lime;  whereas, 
if  he  needs  them,  he  can  buy  them  unmixed  for 
i  of  a  cent  per  lb. :  hence,  every  pound  of  them 
in  the  superphosphate,  involves  a  loss  of  at 
least  II  cent.  They  are  added  by  the  manu- 
facturer  only   to   give    bulk    and   increase    \\h 


138  AMERICAN    MANURES. 

profits.  As  to  organic  substances,  such  as  blood, 
fish  scraps,  horns,  hair,  etc.,  in  these  manures, 
they  have  a  value  proportioned  to  the  amount 
of  nitrogen  or  ammonia  contained  in  them ;  but 
as  they  are  usually  mixed  with  a  considerable 
amount  of  water  and  other  ingredients,  of  7io 
value^  that  costs  the  buyer  as  much  as  the 
nitrogen  or  ammonia  is  worth,  they  may  be  left 
out  of  the  estimate ;  thus  leaving  only  phos- 
phoric acid,  ammonia  and  potash  as  a  basis  of 
value.  We  shall  examine  them  in  the  following 
order :  Phosphoric  Acid — insoluble  and  soluble ; 
Ammonia — actual  and  potential  ;  Potash — 
the  Muriate  and  Sulphate. 

Insoluble  Phosphoric  Acid,  or  Bone  Phos- 
phate of  Lime,  enters  largely  into  the  composi- 
tion of  bones,  as  the  following  analysis  of  cattle 
bones,  in  their  natural  dry  state,  will  show. 

G elatin 30"58  lbs.  contain  nitrogen  5*00  lbs. 

Phosphate  of  Lime. .  .58-30  "         "     Phosphoric  Acid  26-71  " 

Carbonate  of  Lime....  7*07  "  

Fluoride  of  Calcium..   1*96  "  

Phosphate  of  Mag....   2-09  '*         "  "  *'        1-13" 


100-00  lbs.  Total  Phosphoric  Acid  27-84  lbs. 

A  ton  of  such  bones  contains  556  lbs.  of  phos- 
phoric acid,  and  lOl)  lbs.  of  nitrogen.  If  this 
insoluble  phosphoric  acid  be  estimated  at  4  J  cents 
per  lb.,  and  the  nitrogen  at  15  cents,  we  have 
$10.02  a    the  real  value  of  these  bones.     Such 


SOURCES   OF    PHOSPPIORIC   ACID.  139 


bones  usually  cost,  in  their  rough  state,  from  1 
to  $25  per  ton  ;  the  grinding  costs  about  |5. 
The  above  value  of  $40.02  given  to  a  ton  of 
ground  bones,  allows  a  profit  of  from  $10  to  $15 
per  ton  to  the  manufacturers. 

There  are  only  two  available  sources  of  phos- 
phoric acid:  First,  the  bones  of  animals;  Second, 
mineral  guanos,  known  as  Phosphorite,  Apatite, 
tod  Coprolites.  The  use  of  bones  as  a  source 
of  phosphoric  acid  is  limited;  the  trouble  and 
expense  of  collecting  them,  and  the  general 
ignorance  of  their  value,  will  at  all  times  render 
them  an  uncertain  supply,  as  raw  material  for 
the  manufacture  of  fertilizers.  Bat  with  the 
second  source — mineral  phosphates — the  case  is 
different.  There  seems  to  be  scarcely  any  limit 
to  the  amount. 

As  a  raw  material  for  the  manufacture  of 
soluble pliosplioric  acid  or  superphosphate  of  lime, 
it  is  very  valuable.  If  it  is  as  free  from  the  car- 
bonates of  lime  and  magnesia,  and  of  other  foreign 
matter,  as  bones  are,  equal  amounts  of  sulphuric 
acid  will  liberate  the  same  amount  of  soluble  phos- 
phoric acid  from  it,  as  from  bones.  Hence,  other 
things  being  equal,  this  mineral  guano  is  fullj^ 
as  valuable  as  bones  for  preparing  soluble  phos- 
phates. As  before  remarked,  there  is  scarcely 
any  limit  to  the  supply  of  these  mineral  plws- 
phates.       The   largest  known    deposit   on    this 

10 


140  AMERICAN    MANURES. 

continent,  and  perhaps  in  the  world,  is  near 
Charleston,  in  South  Carolina.  The  country  is 
indebted  to  Dr.  N.  A.  Pratt,  of  that  city,  for 
discovering  the  value,  and  aiding  in  the  develop- 
ment of  this  great  source  of  national  wealth. 
He  says,  in  his  report  on  this  subject :  "  This  bed 
has  long  been  known  in  the  history  of  the  geolo- 
gy of  South  Carolina,  as  the  '  Fish  bed  of  the 
Charleston  Basin/  on  account  of  the  abundant 
remains  of  marine  animals  found  in  it — Profes- 
sor Holmes,  of  Charleston,  having  not  less  than 
60,000  sharks'  teeth  alone,  some  of  them  of 
enormous  size,  weighing  from  two  to  two  and  a 
half  pounds  each.  The  bed  outcrops  on  the  banks 
of  the  Ashley,  Cooper,  Stono,  Edisto,  Ashepoo, 
and  Combahee  rivers;  but  is  developed  most 
richly  and  heavily  on  the  former,  and  has  been 
found  inland  forty  or  fifty  miles.  Near  the 
Ashley  river,  it  paves  the  public  highways  for 
miles ;  it  seriously  impedes  and  obstructs  the 
cultivation  of  the  land,  afibrding  scarcely  soil 
enough  to  hill  up  the  cotton  rows;  and  the 
phosphates  have  for  years  past  been  thrown  into 
piles  on  the  lawns  and  into  the  causeways  over 
ravines,  to  get  them  out  of  the  reach  of  the 
plows.  It  underlies  many  square  miles  of  sur- 
face continuously,  at  a  depth  ranging  from  six 
inches  to  twelve  or  more  feet,  and  in  such  quanti- 
ties, that  from  five  hundred  to  a  thousand  tons 


DR.  pratt's  report.  141 

underlie  each  acre.  In  fact,  it  Kseems  there  are 
no  rocks  in  this  section  which  are  not  phos- 
phates. 

"  The  area  of  this  bed,  containing  phosphates 
of  good  quahty  and  in  workable  quantity,  so  far 
as  known  and  examined  by  the  writer  in  person, 
is  not  less  than  40  to  50  square  miles,  though, 
from  samples  I  have  examined  from  beyond  these 
limits,  I  am  led  to  believe  that  the  rock  will  be 
found  of  good  or  indifferent  quality,  and  in 
greater  or  less  quantity,  over  an  area  of  several 
hundred  square  miles.  When  of  inferior  quality, 
they  contain  more  sand,  carbonate  of  lime,  oxide 
of  iron,  and  phosphate  of  iron  and  alumina,  and 
proportionately  less  pure  phosphate  of  lime." 

As  the  amount  of  this  material  is  so  large,  it 
will  doubtless  be  the  chief  source  of  supply  for 
many  years  to  come,  and  there  will  probably  be 
little  variation  in  its  price ;  and  as  there  are  no 
drawbacks  or  checks  to  the  mining  and  economi- 
cal transportation  of  it  to  all  parts  of  the  Atlantic 
coast,  we  will  estimate  the  value  of  insoluble 
phosphoric  acid  from  it.  We  give  the  following 
table  from  Dr.  Pratt's  interesting  pamphlet  on 
the  "  History  of  the  Discovery  and  Development 
of  the  Native  Bone  Phosphates  of  the  Charleston 
Basin,"  giving  analyses  of  different  samples  of 
this  guano,  and  of  some  other  leading  commercial 
guanos,  for  comparison. 


142 


AMERICAN   MANURES. 


si 

o    ^ 
CO    < 

il 

"5    a 

6| 

li 

o  ^ 

i 

South  Carolina, 

No 

1 

34-40 

29-32 

ti 

11 

2 

55-52 

1-50 

10-33 

6-50 

10-31 

^^ 

ii 

3 

63-30 

1-32 

8-20 

901 

a 

a 

4 

68-03 

5-02 

8-03 

7-50 

9-91 

it 

it 

6 

66-36 

3-01 

11-70 

it 

(( 

6 

61-93 

1-04 

11-21 

it 

ti 

1 

64-07 

•84 

11-00 

it 

ti 

8 

69-00 

ti 

ti 

9 

59-07 

•65 

5-68 

it 

it 

10 

49-35 

1-84 

25-70 

if 

li 

11 

49-87 

•86 

4-73 

it 

a 

12 

5007 

-69 

10-14 

Navassa  Guano, 

49-12 

12-00 

Swan  Island  Guano, 
mean  of  two  analyc 

J 

53-08 

12-33 

20-60 

15-40 

Bolivian, 

53-20 

9-23 

18-24 

4-08 

Patagonian, 
Chilian, 

44-00 
31-00 

fphos.  iron 
'  and  alum' a 
[combined. 

18-30 
18-60 

35-60 
43-17 

The  average  amount  of  bone  phosphate  of 
lime  in  the  twelve  analyses,  is  57*58.  The 
writers  have  been  informed  that  the  company 
who  have  control  of  this  deposit  have  adopted 
the  following  tariff,  viz :  Twenty  cents  for  each 
unit  or  per  centage  of  bone  phosphate  contained 
in  100  lbs.  represents  the  value  of  a  ton.  The 
average  per  centage  by  above  Table  is  57*58, 
which  at  20  cents  per  unit  would  make  the  price 


COST    OF    THE    RAW   MATERIAL.  143 

of  this  quality  of  the  article  $11.51  per  ton. 
The  reader  can  appreciate  the  justice  and  fair- 
ness of  a  business  conducted  on  such  an  equitable 
basis ;  and  the  farmer  should  refuse  to  purchase 
the  manufactured  article,  until  a  similar  honest 
arrangement  for  fixhig  its  price  is  adopted  by 
the  manufacturers.  One  ton  of  mineral  phos- 
phate containing  57.58  per  cent,  of  bone  phos- 
phate of  lime,  contains  527  lbs.  of  phosphoric  acid, 
costing  2.16  cents  per  lb.  to  the  manufacturer, 
as  delivered  in  its  rough  state.  When  ground, 
assuming  it  to  be  worth  4  J  cents  per  lb.  (the 
price  claimed),  the  following  statement  will  show 
the  actual  cost  and  profits,  if  put  up  in  bags  and 
sold  in  that  state  : 

One  ton  of  Mineral  Fliosphate $11.50 

Cartage,  grinding  and  labor 5.00 

Bags 2.00 

Total  cost, $18.50 

This  article  in  its  ground  state  is  sold  for 
$25.00  per  ton  to  farmers,  at  a  profit  of  $6.50  per 
ton.  But  its  use,  as  we  will  now  show,  gives  no 
return  for  the  money  expended. 

Manures,  no  matter  what  they  contain,  are 
valuable  only  in  proportion  to  the  solubility  of 
their  fertilizing  constituents.  There  is  absolutely 
no  proof  that  this  mineral  phosphMe,  which  has 
been  exposed  to  the  action  of  water  for  thousands 
of  years,  has  parted  with  any  of  its  phosphoric 


144  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

acid  through  this  agency.  On  the  contrary,  it  is 
more  rich  in  phosphoric  acid  tlian  ordinary 
bones,  which  fact  is  accounted  for  by  the  removal 
of  the  gelatin  originally  contained  in  the  bones 
of  marine  animals  of  which  the  mineral  phos- 
phate is  made  up.  Again,  we  do  not  find  that 
this  mineral  phosphate  has  any  noticeable  effect 
upon  the  vegetation  of  the  soils  in  which  it  is 
found,  in  such  immense  quantities  as  to  require 
removal  in  order  that  the  land  may  be  cultivated. 
The  above  facts  are  in  strict  accordance  with  the 
results  attained  by  the  experiments  of  celebrated 
chemists  uipon  mineral  phosphates.  These  ex- 
periments have  demonstrated  that  pure  water 
has  no  appreciable  effect  on  them,  and  that 
solutions  of  salts  of  ammonia  and  of  soda,  mucli 
stronger  than  can  be  found  in  soils,  have  but  a 
very  slight  effect  upon  them.  Hence,  as  organic 
and  mineral  acids  exist  only  ,as  traces  in  soils, 
we  may  safely  assert  that  they  have  no  ap- 
preciable effect  upon  them,  but  that  crude  ground 
mineral  phosphates  must  remain  inert  and  useless 
in  the  soil ;  their  only  possible  value  in  the  crude 
insoluble  state  consists  in  the  carbonate  of  lime 
they  contain,  which  can  be  purchased  at  one 
tenth  the  price  paid  for  in  mineral  phosphates. 

Soluble  Phosphoric  Acid  is  produced  by  the 
action  of  sulphuric  acid  on  bone  phosphate  of 
lime,  phosphate    of  magnesia,    and    phosphates 


SOLUBLE   PHOSPHORIC   ACID.  145 

of  iron  and  alumina.  As  carbonate  of  lime  and 
fluoride  of  calcium  are  always  found  in  bones 
and  mineral  phosphates,  the  sulphuric  acid  first 
decomposes  these  substances  and  produces  sul- 
phate of  lime,  before  any  phosphoric  acid  is 
liberated  or  rendered  soluble,  because  the  above 
named  compounds  are  held  together  by  a  feebler 
affinity  than  phosphoric  acid  with  its  base. 
Hence,  if  an  insufficient  amount  of  acid  is  used 
to  effect  both,  the  phosphoric  acid  is  left  in  its 
inert  insoluble  state.  Through  the  cupidity  and 
ignorance  of  the' manufacturers  in  purchasing 
mineral  phosphates  that  contain  a  large  amount 
of  these  substances,  this  is  often  the  case,  and 
thus  they  neglect  their  own,  as  well  as  the 
interest  of  the  farmer.  Again,  as  all  mineral 
phosphates  contain  peroxide  of  iron  and  alumina, 
some  as  much  as  15  per  cent.,  a  much  larger 
amount  of  sulphuric  acid  is  required  to  render 
the  phosphoric  acid  soluble  than  otherwise,  be- 
cause the  phosphoric  acid  first  liberated  combines 
with  the  peroxide  of  iron  and  alumina  and  be- 
comes insoluble,  and  an  additional  amount  of 
acid  is  required  to  again  liberate  it  from  this 
peroxide  of  iron  and  alumina.  Hence,  the  im- 
portance of  the  buyer  knowing  the  percentage  of 
these  substances  in  the  mineral  phosphate,  and 
the  amount  of  sulphuric  acid  used.  Here  again 
buyers   are    defrauded,    in    consequence  of  the 


146  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

manufacturer  using  an  insufficient  quantity  of 
acid.     (See  page  55.) 

Sulphuric  acid  being  the  agent  used  to  render 
phosphoric  acid  soluble,  we  shall  now  show  how 
much  is  required.  Oil  of  vitriol,  or  the  strongest 
sulphuric  acid  of  commerce,  known  as  66°  acid, 
contains  75  per  cent,  of  anhj^drous  sulphuric 
acidr. 

Each  per  cent,  of  the  following  compounds 
will  require,  to  render  them  soluble,  the  follow- 
ing amounts  of  66°  acid,  or  oil  of  vitriol : 

1-00  Carbonate  of  Lime  requires 1*066  Sulphuric  Acid. 

1-00  Bone  Phosphate  of  lime 0-688 

1-00  Basic  Phosphate  of  Magnesia.  0-810 

1-00  Fluoride  of  Calcium 1*367 

1-00  Alumina 3-110 

1-00  Protoxide  of  Iron 1*480 

1-00  Peroxide  of  Iron 2-000 

The  above  Table  is  very  valuable  both  to  the 
manufacturer  and  the  farmer.  The  manufacturer 
can  readily  calculate  how  much  acid  is  required 
by  bones  or  any  mineral  phosphates,  of  a  known 
composition,  to  render  all  the  phosphoric  acid 
soluble.  And  when  a  superphosphate  of  lime  is 
represented  to  contain  a  certain  percentage  of 
soluble  phosphoric  acid,  the  farmer  can  very 
nearly  estimate  the  amount  of  sulphuric  acid 
used,  and  also  the  expense  incurred  by  the 
manufacturers.  The  application  of  sulphuric 
acid  to  carbonate  of  lime  or  fluoride  of  calcium, 


VALUATION   OF   FERTILIZERS.  147 

dissipates  the  carbonic  acid  and  fluorine  gases^ 
causing  a  loss  of  weight,  as  follows : 

I'OO  Carbonate  of  lime  loses 0*44    Carbonic  Acid. 

I'OO  Fluoride  of  Calcium 0*512  Hydrofluoric  Acid. 

To  illustrate  this  matter  fully,  we  will  take 
for  example  100  lbs.  of  ox  bones,  which  have  the 
following  composition  : 

Gelatin 30*58  lbs.  Sulphuric  Acid.  Loss  in  gas. 

Phosphate  of  Lime 58*30  "  require  40-165  lbs. 

Carbonate  of  Lime....  7*07  "          ''          7*536    "    3*11  lbs. 

Fluoride  of  Calcium....  1*96  "          "          2*689    "    1*00    " 

Phosphate  of  Magnesia.  2*09  "          "          1*692    *' 

100-00  lbs.  52*082  lbs.  4*11  lbs. 

The  resulting  compounds,  formed  by  the  addi- 
tion of  the  sulphuric  acid,  are  as  follows : 

Hydrated  Sulphate  of  Lime  or  Plaster 81*17  lbs. 

Superphosphate  of  Lime 44*00    " 

Superphosphate  of  Magnesia 1*73    " 

Hydrated  Sulphate  of  Magnesia 3*91    " 

Gelatin 30-58    '' 


Carbonic  Acid  gas  liberated  and  lost 3*11    "     /  £  I  .?)1 

Hydrofluoric  Acid        "•  "       "    1*00    " 

The  above  fully  explains  the  theory  of  con- 
verting insoluble  phosphates  into  superphos- 
phates. 

The  following  Table  shows  the  average  cost 
of  the  materials,  and  the  weight  produced.  As 
the  sulphate  of  lime  produced  requires  two 
equivalents  of  water  for  its  formation,  if  the 
bones  be  perfectly  dry,  it  would  be  necessary  to 
add  water  in  about  the  proportion  shown  below. 


148  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

This  water  should  be  thoroughly  mixed  with  the 
bones  before  the  acid  is  applied. 

100  lbs.  Bones,  at  1^  cents  per  lb $1.25 

52  *'     Sulphuric  Acid,  at  2J  cents 1.30 

25  **     Water 

177  *'  $2.55 

4-11  "     Loss  in  Gases. 

172.89  *' 

From  the  above  Table  we  find  that  the  mate- 
rial of  one  ton  of  such  superphosphate  of  lime 
costs  the  manufacturer  $29.50.  As  the  100  lbs. 
of  bones  contain  28.05  lbs.  of  phosphoric  acid, 
the  172.89  lbs.  of  the  combination  would  contain 
the  same  with  5  lbs.  of  nitrogen ;  and  one  ton 
would  contain  324  lbs.  of  soluble  phosphoric 
acid,  and  57  lbs.  of  nitrogen,  showing  the  ton  of 
superphosphate  to  be  worth  to  the  farmer  as  fol- 
lows (?issuming  12}  and  15  cents,  per  lb.  as  the 
value  of  soluble  phosphoric  acid  and  nitrogen)  : 

324  lbs.  of  Soluble  Phosphoric  Acid,  at  12^  cents $40.5C 

57   "     of  Nitrogen  in  organic  matter,  at  15  cents 8.55 

Bags 2  00 

$51.05 

The  cost  to  the  manufacturer  is,  as  follows  : 

1157  lbs.  of  Bones,  at  1|  cents $14.47 

Grinding,  at  $5  per  ton 2.89 

602  lbs.  Sulphuric  Acid,  at  2^  cents 15.05 

288  ''     VS^ater 

2047  "  Labor  and  Bags 5.00 

47  *'    Loss  in  Gases 

2000  "  Total  cost $37.41 


PROFITS   OF    MANUFACTURERS.  149 

This  superphosphate  of  lime  would  show,  by 
analysis,  the  following  percentage  of  the  substan 
ces  named  below : 

Nitrogen  in  organic  matter 2-85 

Soluble  Phosporic  Acid 16*20 

Equal  Superphosphate  of  Lime 26*70 

Equal  to  Bone-phosphate  rendered  sol.. .35*37 

The  reader  will  observe  that  a  superphosphate 
of  the  above  quality  can  be  manufactured  at  a 
cost  of  $37.41  per  ton,  and  is  worth  $51.05  to 
the  farmer ;  and  if  sold  at  $50,  allows  a  profit 
of  334  per  cent,  on  its  cost — quite  enough  for 
any  honest  business.  He  will  also  observe  that 
12i^  cents  per  lb.  for  soluble  phosphoric  acid  (the 
value  we  have  assumed  in  our  calculations),  is  a 
fair  valuation,  inasmuch  as  that  assumed  value 
allows  a  large  profit.  We  shall  show  hereafter 
that  15  cents  per  lb.  is  a  fair  valuation  for 
nitrogen  in  organic  matter ;  and  further,  he  will 
observe  by  turning  to  the  analyses  of  leading 
manures  given  in  Chap.  VII.,  and  comparing 
the  percentage  of  valuable  ingredients  in  them, 
Avith  that  of  the  phosphate  above  described,  that 
one  ton  of  the  latter  is  really  worth  two  tons  of 
any  of  them,  which  are  sold  at  from  $50  to  $55 
per  ton.  How  great  then  are  the  profits  of 
manufacturers,  and  the  imposition  upon  pur- 
chasers ! 


150  AMEBIC  AN    MANURES. 

We  shall  now  show  what  soluble  phosphoric 
acid  costs  the  manufacturer,  when  he  uses  South 
Carolina  mineral  phosphate  as  a  raw  material. 
To  illustrate  this,  w^e  will  take  for  example  No. 
12  on  the  Table  of  Analyses,  page  142.  This  an- 
alysis is  very  near  the  general  average,  and  100 
lbs.  of  such  phosphate  w411  require  the  following 
amount  of  sulphuric  acid  3  the  amount  of  gas 
liberated  is  also  shown. 

These  analyses  are  very  imperfectly  rendered, 
the  carbonates  of  lime  and  magnesia,  and  the 
phosphates  of  iron  a,nd  alumina  being  given  alto- 
gether, with  no  statement  of  the  amount  of  phos- 
phoric acid  combined  with  them.  As  these  gu- 
anos contain  but  a  small  amount  of  magnesia, 
we  shall  estimate  the  carbonates  as  carbonate  of 
lime,  and  estimate  the  phosphate  of  iron  and  alu- 
mina given,  as  phosphate  of  iron. 

Sulphuric  Acid.   Gas  liberated, 

50'07  lbs.  Phosphate  of  Lime,  require  34-448 
0-69  "  ''  "  Iron,         ''  -730 

10-14  "      Carbonate  of  Lime,       "        10-819        4-46 
39'10  "      Organic  matter,  Sand,  etc., 


100-00  "  45-997 

A  ton  of  superphosphate  of  lime  manufactured 
from  this  guano,  would  cost,  as  follows;  as  in  the 
case  of  dry  bones,  should  this  guano  be  in  a  very 
dry  state,  about  the  same  amount  of  water  should 
be  used : 


SUPERPHOSPHATES.  151 

1207  lbs.  of  Mineral  Phosphate,  at  20  cents  per  unit $5.62 

553  "     of  Sulpliuric  Acid,  at  2^  cents 13.45 

289  ''     of  Water 

Cost  of  Grinding  and  other  labor,  at  $5  per  ton.. .     3.01 
Labor  of  mixing,  and  Bags 5.00 

2049  "  $27.08 

49  "     Loss  in  Carbonic  Acid  Gas. 

2000  " 

This  ton  of  superphosphate  of  lime  contains 
280  lbs.,  or  14  per  cent,  of  soluble  phosphoric 
acid;  and  estimating  the  value  of  the  ton  from 
the  value  of  this  article  at  12  J  cents  per  Ib.^  gives 

280  lbs.  of  Soluble  Phosphoric  Acid,  at  12^  cents...  .$35.00 
Bags 2.00 

Value  to  farmer $37.00 

This  value  allows  a  profit  of  $9.92  per  ton  to 
the  manufacturer,  which  is  nearly  33  per  cent., 
if  it  is  sold  to  the  farmer  at  its  real  value.  But 
if  sold  at  $50  per  ton,  the  usual  price,  the  man- 
ufacturer makes  $22.92,  which  is  a  profit  of  84  J 
per  cent,  on  the  cost  of  the  article  ;  and  the  pur- 
chaser is  cheated  out  of  $13  on  every  ton  he 
purchases,  because  the  manufacturer  exacts  for 
it  $13  more  than  it  is  really  worth. 

But  the  real  state  of  the  case  is  much  worse 
than  this.  The  above  shows  what  are  the  pro- 
fits to  the  manufacturer  when  the  .hest  possible 
article  is  made^  and  the  loss  to  the  farmer  when 
he  pays  $50  per  ton  for  it.     The  manufacturers 


152  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

make  an  article  much  inferior  to  the  above,  by 
using  an  insufficient  amount  of  sulphuric  acid, 
and  as  much  water  as  possible. 

For  the  sake  of  illustration,  we  will  show  the 
value  of  a  superphosphate  of  the  following  com- 
position, which  is  a  better  one  than  is  usually  fur- 
nished by  manufacturers,  as  a  comparison  of  the 
analysis  we  give  of  it,  with  that  of  the  analyses 
of  celebrated  manures  given  in  Chap.  VII.,  will 
show. 

1512  lbs.  Mineral  Phosphate,  at  $10  per  ton $  7.31 

250  "     Sulphuric  Acid,  at  2 J  cents  per  lb 6.25 

300  "     Water 

2062  '' 

Grinding,  Labor,  Bags,  etc 8.50 

62  "     Loss  in  Gas.  — 

Total  cost .$22.06 

2000  '' 

This  attempt  at  making  a  superphosphate 
would,  on  analysis,  show  very  nearly  the  follow- 
ing composition : 

Soluble  Phosphoric  Acid 6-32  per  cent. 

Equal  to  Superphosphate  of  Lime 10*41    *'      *' 

Insoluble  Phosphoric  Acid .10-97    "      " 

Equal  to  Bone  Phosphate 24*00    "      '* 

A  ton  of  this  contains  346  lbs.  of  phosphoric 
acid,  126  i  lbs.  of  which  is  soluble  and  219  i  lbs. 
insoluble ;  and  the  value  of  a  ton  to  the  farmer 
would  be  as  follows  ; 


DECEPTIONS   OF   THE    BUSINESS.  153 

126J  lbs.  Soluble  Phosphoric  Acid,  @  12J  cents $15.81 

21 9|-   "    Insoluble,  of  no  value  as  shown,  (see  page  1^5) 

Bags 2.00 

$17.81 

Here  we  have  an  article  of  absolutely  less 
value  than  the  materials  and  labor  used  in  pre- 
paring it — the  cost  being  $23.06^  and  the  real 
value,  only  $17.81.  But  the  manufacturer  in 
selling  it  at  $50  per  ton,  more  than  double  the 
cost,  makes  $27.94,  which  is  a  profit  of  1111 
per  cent.;  and  the  farmer  who  pays  $50  for  it, 
and  to  whom  it  is  worth  only  $17.81,  is  cheated 
to  the  amount  of  $32.19  in  every  ton  he  pur- 
chases. The  farmer  must  bear  in  mind  that  he 
gets  in  many  cases,  as  the  analyses  in  Chap.  VII. 
show,  even  a  poorer  article  than  the  above,  and 
hence,  is  cheated  to  a  still  greater  extent. 

Most  of  the  superphosphates  (so  called)  that 
are  now  in  the  market  contain  only  from  a  tenth 
to  one-half  of  the  phosphoric  acid  in  a  soluble 
condition,  because  an  insufficient  amount  of 
sulphuric  acid  is  used ;  the  balance,  being  insolu- 
ble, is  of  no  value  to  the  farmer,  if  it  is  contained 
in  mineral  phosphate,  though  it  may  have  a 
value  of  4  J  cents  per  lb.  to  the  manufacturer,  as  a 
raw  material  to  make  soluble  phosphoric  acid 
from.  They  would  fain  make  the  farmer  be- 
lieve that  it  is  worth  4  J  cents  per  lb.  to  him ;  but 
if  we  did  not  attempt  to  correct  this  idea,  we 


154  AMERICAN    MANURES. 

should  consider  ourselves  a  party  to  the  frauds 
of  the  manufacturers  in  their  attempts  to  reap 
enormous  profits  by  statements  which  both 
science,  experiments  and  observation  prove  to 
be  false.  Insoluble  phosphoric  acid,  exceeding 
3  or  4  per  cent,  in  any  manufactured  superphos- 
phate, is  proof  positive  of  ignorance  of  the  re- 
quirements of  his  business,  cupidity  or  dis- 
honesty, or  it  may  be  all  three,  on  the  part  of 
the  manufacturer. 

Some  manufacturers  in  giving  analyses  of  their 
fertilizers,  use  the  term  "  Soluble  Bone  Phos- 
phate." There  is  no  such  substance  as  soluble 
bone  phosphate.  There  is  Bone  Pliospliate^  and 
14  parts  of  it  equal  only  6*41  parts  of  phos- 
phoric acid.  B}^  using  the  term  ''  Soluble  Bone 
Phosphate,"  they  desire  to  convey  the  impression 
that  the  purchaser  gets  more  than  double  the 
amount  of  soluble  phosphoric  acid  that  he  really 
does.  If  the  manufacturer  uses  the  term  ^'Solu- 
ble Bone  Phosphate,"  51  cents  is  the  measure  of 
value  for  it  per  lb.,  instead  of  12  2^  cents,  as  for 
phosphoric  acid,  and  the  farmer  should  be  care- 
ful in  purchasing  to  note  this.  No  honest 
manufacturer  who  understands  his  business  uses 
the  term. 

Ammonia  and  Nitrogen,  as  found  in  manures, 
are  technically  called  Actual  Ammonia  and  Poten- 
tial Ammonia.     In  most  manures,  and  especially 


SOURCES   OF   AMMONIA.  155 

those  manufactured  from  organic  substances^  the 
amount  of  actual  ammonia  is  very  small.  It 
requires  no  reasoning  to  prove  that  actual  am- 
monia is  far  more  vakiable  than  nitrogen  in  the 
form  of  so-called  potential  ammonia,  as  the  first 
named  as  found  in  Peruvian  Guano,  fermented 
dung,  and  urine  has  a  marked  effect  upon  the 
growth  of  plants,  while  other  substances  that  are 
not  quickly  and  readily  decomposed,  such  as 
wool,  horns,  hoofs,  etc.,  may  contain  an  equal 
amount  of  nitrogen,  and  yet  have  no  apparent 
effect  upon  the  growth  of  vegetation. 

Manufacturers  in  giving  analyses  of  their 
manures  make  no  distinction  between  nitrogen 
as  actual  ammonia,  and  nitrogen  in  organic 
matter ;  but  both  are  given  as  actual  ammonia. 
But  as  we  have  determined  the  amount  of  each ' 
in  the  manures  analyzed  (Chap.  VII.),  we  shall 
give  them  a  value  as  nearly  in  accordance  with 
the  condition  in  which  they  are  found  as  possi- 
ble. We  shall  be  guided  by  the  same  rule  in 
the  valuation  of  this  article,  as  we  were  with 
phosphoric  acid,  viz  :— the  cost  of  production  and 
preparation,  and  its  value  in  the  different  mater- 
ials from  which  the  manufacturers  obtain  it. 
Nitrogen  is  usually  procured  from  the  following 
sources  of  supply : — Peruvian  Guano,  bones, 
hoofs,  horns,  blood,  and  other  organic  remains, 

also  from  the  crude  sulphate  of  ammonia.     All 
11 


156  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

the  salts  of  ammonia  are  soluble  in  water,  and 
are  directly  available  as  plant  food.  Ammonia 
is  contained  in  Jb'eruvian  Guano,  as  actual  and 
potential,  in  about  equal  proportions. 

Professor  Johnson  says,  "^^  Peruvian  Guano  is 
genuine  and  good  when  it  contains  15  per  cent, 
of  ammonia,  and  the  same  amount  of  phosphoric 
acid."  About  one-third  of  this  acid  is  soluble  in 
water;  it  also  contains  an  average  of  3  per  cent, 
of  potash ;  and  at  the  prices  quoted  below  a  ton 
would  show  a  value,  as  follows  : — 


'  7^  per  cent. 

of  Potential   Ammonia,        =   150  lbs 

.  @  15  cents,.. 

..$22.50 

7i    "     « 

Actual  Ammonia,              =   150    " 

@  25      "  ■  .. 

..  37.50 

5      "     " 

Soluble  Phosphoric  Acid  ■=   100    " 

@  12i    «     .. 

..  12.50 

10      "      'f 

Insoluble,  as  in  bones,     =   200    " 

@    4i    «     .. 

..     9.00 

3      "     " 

Potash                                ^     60    " 

@    8      "     .. 

..     4.80 

6.30 


The  price  of  the  first  grades  of  Peruvian  Guano 
is  now  from  $70  to  $75  per  ton;  but  as  that 
which  is  now  offered  in  the  market  contains 
about  3  per  cent,  less  of  ammonia  than  the  above, 
this  difference  in  the  percentage  of  ammonia 
would  lessen  the  value  $12  per  ton,  thus  mak- 
ing the  calculated  value,  and  the  present  price 
asked  by  dealers,  very  nearly  the  same.  But 
when  farmers  pay  $75  per  ton  for  Peruvian 
Guano,  they  should  be  very  careful  to  know  the 
amount  of  ammonia,  phosphoric  acid  and  pot- 
ash it  contains;  and  from  the  amount  of  these, 


SULPHATE   OF   AMMONIA.  157 

calculate  its  real  value,  in  order  to  know  whether 
they  are  getting  the  worth  of  their  money. 

Crude  Sulphate  of  Ammonia  is  sold  at  about 
6  cents  per  lb.,  and  contains,  on  an  average,  about 
25  per  cent,  of  actual  ammonia,  ^vhich  would 
cost  for  actual  ammonia  per  lb.,  in  this  form, 
about  the  same  as  in  Peruvian  Guano.  But  it 
has  advantages  in  this  shape.  As  sulphate  of 
ammonia  is  a  fixed  neutral  salt,  there  is  no  loss 
b}^  volatilization,  as  is  the  case  with  the  guano ; 
it  also  becomes  fixed  in  the  soil,  and  can  be  as- 
similated by  plants  in  the  proper  proportions 
needed ;  and  there  is  no  unnatural  stimulation, 
as  is  often  the  case  with  Peruvian  Guano. 

These  are  the  most  important  sources  of  actual 
ammonia,  and  are  the  most  convenient  and 
economical  medium  of  applying  it  as  a  manure ; 
and  from  these  deductions  we  shall  fix  the 
price  of  nitrogen,  as  contained  in  bones,  blood, 
fish  scrap,  etc.,  at  15  cents  per  lb.,  and  the  actual 
ammonia  that  is  found  in  commercial  manures, 
guano,  or  in  sulphate  of  ammonia,  at  25  cents  per 
lb.  The  justness  of  these  prices  will  be  readily 
admitted  by  any  one  who  will  give  the  matter  a 
little  thought. 

Nitrogen,  as  potential  ammonia,  is  contained 
in  all  manures  that  are  prepared  from  organic 
substances,  such  as  bones,  dried  meat,  hoofs  and 
horns,  wool,  hair,  etc.     The  nitrogen  contained 


158  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

in  these  substances  is  given  out  during  their  de- 
composition as  actual  ammonia,  and  the  value 
of  this  nitrogen  may  be  calculated  by  the  amount 
of  time  required  for  their  decomposition.  That 
nitrogen  in  this  shape  is  not  immediately  availa- 
ble as  food  for  plants,  and  consequently  is  not  so 
valuable  as  a  manure  containing  ready  formed 
ammonia,  is  a  fact  that  requires  no  reasoning  on 
our  part.  The  decomposition  of  nitrogenous 
substances,  and  the  formation  of  ammonia,  is  a 
work  of  time,  and  time  is  money ;  practical  ex- 
periments have  satisfactorily  proved  this  to  be 
the  case.  Therefore  tlii&  potential  ammonia  can- 
not be  near  so  valuable  as  the  actual. 

The  cost  of  nitrogen  in  green  ox  bones  can  be 
readily  ascertained;  if  100  lbs.  of  these  bones 
contain  26*35  per  cent,  of  insoluble  phosphoric 
acid,  and  4*00  per  cent,  of  nitrogen,  as  this  phos- 
phoric acid  and  nitrogen  are  the  only  substances 
that  give  bones  a  value  as  a  manure,  we  can 
easily  calculate  the  cost  of  nitrogen  in  this  form. 
According  to  the  percentage  given,  each  ton  of 
these  bones  would  contain  and  show  the  following 
value : 

527  lbs.  Insoluble  Phosphoric  Acid,  at  4J  cents $23.71 

80"     Nitrogen,  at  15  cents 12.00 

Total $35.71 

This  is  a  fair  price  for  ground  bones,  and  hence 
15  cents  per  lb.  should  be  a  fair  price  for  the  ni- 


poTAsn.  159 

trogen  contained  in  them.  Fertilizers  are  some- 
times prepared  from  horns  and  hoofs ;  as  these 
substances  contain  12  to  15  per  cent,  of  nitrogen, 
such  preparations  would  command  a  high  price 
if  estimated  on  the  amount  contained  at  15  cents 
per  lb. ;  but  nitrogen  as  contained  in  such  sub- 
stances is  very  inert,  and  may  remain  in  the  soil 
for  years  and  not  become  decomposed,  or  afford 
any  ammonia  to  plants.  Feathers,  wool,  hair, 
and  similar  substances,  contain  nitrogen  in  the 
same  condition.  These  substances  are  often 
found  in  manures,  and  it  would  be  very  unjust 
to  assign  the  same  value  to  the  nitrogen  in  such 
condition  as  to  the  actual  ammonia  contained  in 
Peruvian  Guano,  sulphate  of  ammonia,  or  even 
the  nitrogen  contained  in  bones.  From  what 
has  been  said,  the  reader  can  readily  see  that  15 
cents  per  lb.  for  nitrogen  in  organic  matter, 
and  25  cents  for  actual  ammonia,  are  fair  prices 
to  the  farmer,  and  remunerative  to  the  manufac- 
turer. 

Potash  is  an  essential  ingredient  of  plants,  and 
recently  some  manufacturers  have  made  it  an 
especial  feature  of  their  manures.  It  is  usually 
applied  as  crude  muriate  of  potash.  This  salt  is 
obtained  from  Germany,  where  it  is  found  in  im- 
mense beds  similar  to  rock-salt.  It  contains 
about  54  per  cent,  of  actual  potash,  and  costs 
nearly  8  cents  per  pound. 


160  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

Potasli  is  sometimes  used  in  manures  as  a 
crude  sulphate  of  potash,  this  is  generally  very 
impure,  and  contains  only  16  to  17  per  cent,  of 
potash,  and  can  be  purchased  in  bags  for  $30 
per  ton ;  this  would  make  the  pure  potash  about 
8  cents  per  pound. 

Potash  salts  can  be  purchased  in  New  York 
for  $70  per  ton,  guaranteed  to  contain  80  per 
cent.of  muriate  of  potash,  making  the  price  of  pure 
potash  nearly  the  same  as  above ;  consequently 
we  shall  estimate  the  potash  as  contained  in 
fertilizers  at  8  cents  per  pound,  which  price  is 
evidently  remunerative  to  the  manufacturers. 

So  that  the  prices  we  have  adopted  to  estimate 
the  value  of  the  following  substances  are  for. 

Insoluble  Phosphoric  Acid  as  in  bones 4^  cents. 

Soluble  Phosphoric         "  "     12^      '' 

Actual  Ammonia 25        " 

Nitrogen  in  organic  matter 15       " 

Potash 8       " 

The  above  prices  are  for  the  strictly  pure 
anhydrous  substances;  but  as  many  manufac- 
turers in  giving  analyses  of  their  manures  give 
the  following  combinations,  which  are  calculated 
to  deceive  the  farmer,  by  producing  an  im- 
pression that  there  is  a  larger  amount  of  the 
different  substances  present,  the  following  Table 
will  be  useful  in  showing  the  relative  value  of 
these  combinations  with  the  above  prices : 


manufacturer's  catechism.  161 

Soluble  Bone  Phosphate 5|  cents. 

Hydrated  Phosphoric  Acid 9^      " 

Hydrate  of  Ammonia 12t)-      " 

Muriate  of  Potash 5        *' 

Sulphate  of      '' 4^      " 

From  the  difference  in  the  relative  prices  of 
the  difterent  substances,  the  farmer  can  realize 
the  importance  of  knowing  what  are  the  com- 
binations given  by  the  manufacturers,  as  a  basis 
for  computing  the  value  of  their  fertilizers.  And 
for  his  assistance,  we  suggest  the  following  line 
of  questioning  to  the  manufacturer  or  the  dealer, 
when  the  farmer  intends  making  a  purchase  of 
fertilizers  : 

MANUFACTURER'S  CATECHISM. 

First.  What  percentage  of  phosphoric  acid 
(anhydrous),  soluble  in  cold  water,  do  you 
warrant  your  fertilizer  to  contain  ? 

Second.  What  percentage  of  insoluble  phos- 
phoric acid  (anhydrous),  do  you  warrant  your 
fertilizer  to  contain  ? 

Third.  What  percentage  of  nitrogen,  as  it 
exists  in  raw  bone,  blood,  etc.,  do  you  wan^ant 
your  fertilizer  to  contain  ? 

Fourth.  What  percentage  of  actual  ammonia, 
do  you  warrant  your  fertilizer  to  contain  ? 

Fifth.  What  percentage  of  potash,  do  you 
warrant  your  fertilizer  to  contain? 


162  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

Sixth.  What  percentage  of  uncombined  water, 
do  you  warrant  your  fertilizer  to  contain  ? 

Seventh.  What  percentage  oi  pure  potash  is 
there  in  the  ''  salts  of  potash  "  contained  in  your 
fertilizer? 

Eighth.  What  percentage  of  phosphoric  acid 
is  there  in  the  "  soluble  phosphates "  contained 
in  your  fertilizer  ? 

If  purchasers  would  make  it  a  rule  to  pro- 
pound these  questions  to  manufacturers  and 
dealers,  should  they  not  succeed  in  acquiring 
the  information  sought,  they  would,  in  most 
cases,  be  fully  convinced  of  one  thing,  viz.,  the 
supreme  ignorance  of  both  manufacturers  and 
dealers,  of  the  nature  of  the  constituents  of  what 
they  make  and  sell. 


CHAPTER  YI. 

THE  NATURE  AND  VALUE  OF   NATURAL   MANURES 

THE  NECESSITY  OF  THIER  ACCUMULATION  AND 
PREPARATION — COMPOSTING — HOW  IT  SHOULD  BE 
DONE — AND  THE  CHEMICAL  ACTION  NECESSARY  TO 
BE  PRODUCED 

There  are  many  substances  highly  beneficial 
to  vegetation^  which  are  often  neglected  from  ig- 
norance of  their  value.  The  excrements  and 
litter  of  the  animals  kept  on  a  farm,  if  properly 
preserved  and  prepared,  will  afford  a  large 
amount  of  valuable  manure,  and  will  restore  to 
the  soil  a  considerable  portion  of  the  elements 
of  the  food  on  which  these  animals  were  fed. 
But  as  most  farmers  raise  cattle  for  sale,  the 
bulk  of  the"  most  valuable  elements  of  the  plants 
on  which  they  were  fed,  is  removed.  Every  an- 
imal raised,  fattened  and  sold,  represents  a  defi- 
nite amount  of  the  vital  elements  of  fertility 
removed  from  the  soil ;  and  the  practical  farmer 
should,  in  order  to  preserve  its  average  produc- 
tiveness, return  an  equal  amount  in  some  other 
form. 

163 


164  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

Stable  manure  and  litter  from  the  animals 
kept  on  a  farm,  contain  all  the  elements  of 
plants;  but  if  all  these  materials  were  saved  with 
scrupulous  care,  the  amount  would  be  insufficient 
to  preserve  the  normal  fertile  condition  of  the 
soil,  and  deterioration,  with  reduced  crops,  must 
ensue.  It  is  folly  to  suppose  that  the  straw  and 
chaff — the  least  valuable  portion  of  a  crop  of 
wheat — will  grow  another  crop  of  equal  amount, 
or  that  the  excrements  of  a  growing  animal  are 
sufficient  to  grow  enough  plants  to  raise  another 
such  animal.  Therefore  the  prudent  father,  who 
has  a  care  for  the  interest  and  prosperity  of  his 
children,  should  endeavor  by  the  best  and  cheap- 
est means  to  preserve  the  fertility  of  his  land. 
In  order  to  effect  this  object,  he  should  know  the 
value  of  all  the  materials  that  can  be  cheaply 
accumulated  on  the  farm  and  utilized  as  manures, 
as  well  as  of  those  he  has  to  procure  from  abroad. 

All  organic  substances  contain  a  portion  of  all 
the  necessary  elements  of  the  plants  cultivated ; 
but  the  amount  in  some  varieties  is  so  small, 
that  the  advantage  gained  would  not  pay  for  the 
labor  of  collecting  and  preparing  them.  The 
leaves  of  some  trees  are  rich  in  some  of  the  inor- 
ganic elements  of  plants,  and  would  amply  repay 
the  farmer  for  collecting  and  applying  them ; 
while  others  are  nearly  worthless,  and  their  use 
as  a  manure  would  merely  involve  a  loss  of  time 
and  labor. 


BARN-YARD   MANURE.  165 

The  different  manurial  substances  will  be 
discussed  in  the  following  order :  Stable  manure 
and  cattle  dung — night  soil — swamp  muck — 
leaves — wood  and  coal  ashes — marl — green 
manuring,  and  liquid  manures. 

Stable  or  Barn-Yard  Manure  consists  of  the 
solid  excrements  and  urine  of  horses  and  cows, 
mixed  with  the  substances  used  as  bedding. 
Like  other  substances  used  as  manures,  this  has 
two  values  :  one  in  its  natural  fresh  condition — 
the  other  when  it  is  properly  fermented.  This 
manure  in  its  natural  condition  contains  every 
thing  necessary  for  plant  food,  in  an  insoluble 
condition  ;  but  as  every  constituent  is  in  a  finely 
divided  state,  the  action  of  the  carbonic  acid 
generated  during  fermentation  will  render  silica, 
phosphoric  acid  and  potash  in  a  condition  for 
assimilation  by  plants.  The  nitrogen  in  organic 
matter,  also,  becomes  changed  to  actual  am- 
monia. The  value  of  the  straw  or  other  litter 
can  be  readily  calculated  from  the  Tables  on 
pages  82  and  85.  The  excrements  of  animals 
when  fermented,  being  more  active  as  a  manure 
than  when  in  the  natural  §tate,  prove  con- 
clusively the  advantages  gained  by  fermentation. 
The  value  of  these  manures  is  influenced  by 
other  causes.  If  the  food  is  very  rich,  the  man- 
ure will  be  rich  in  proportion.  The  excrements 
of  a  growing  animal  are  not  nearly  as  valuable 


166  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

as  those  of  one  that  is  fattening,  because  the 
growing  animal  requires  nitrogen  to  make  blood 
and  muscular  fibre,  also  phosphoric  acid  for  the 
bones.  On  the  contrary,  the  fattening  animal 
requires  but  little  of  these  substances.  Full 
grown  animals  when  in  good  condition  require 
only  sufficient  food  to  renew  the  waste  of  the 
system.  Horse  manure  is  more  valuable  than 
that  of  the  cow,  as  the  latter  has  to  furnish 
milk,  which  almost  exhausts  the  food  of  its 
nitrogen ;  also  an  animal  with  young  will  nearly 
exhaust  its  food,  as  it  requires  not  only  materials 
for  its  own  sustenance,  but  also  a  sufficient 
amount  to  build  up  its  young.  Hence  the  food 
will  be  exhausted  not  only  of  its  nitrogen,  but 
also  of  phosphoric  acid.  In  fact,  the  excrements 
of  animals,  like  other  substances  used  as  manures, 
are  valuable  just  in  proportion  to  the  amount  of 
ammonia,  phosphoric  acid  and  potash  they  con- 
tain. The  reader  has  been  shown  how  varying 
circumstances  will  affect  the  amounts  of  these 
elements ;  hence  it  is  impossible  to  arrive  at  any 
strictly  correct  estimate  of  the  value  of  a  given 
weight  of  any  animal  manure.  A  general  average 
based  on  extended  experiments  is  given  in  the 
following  Table,  which  shows  the  amount  of 
water,  and  of  the  valuable  constituents  only, 
contained  in  1000  lbs.  in  its  natural  undried 
state : 


CITY   STABLE    MANURES.  167 


Water. 

Phosplioric 

acid.         Potash. 

Nitrogen.  =  Ammonia. 

Pig   Dung. 

840  lbs 

8-0  lbs.  5-0  lbs. 

7-01bs.=  8-5  lbs. 

Horse      *' 

743    '' 

12-2    "  28-0    " 

5-4   ''  --=    6-5   " 

Cow 

864   *' 

5-2   "  10-7   " 

3-5   "  =   4-2   " 

Chicken  " 

850   '' 

15-2   ''     5-5    " 

21-5    "  -=26-1   '* 

Sheep      '* 

670    " 

22-7   "     7-0   " 

7-1   *'  =:    8-5   " 

Human   " 

750   " 

3-3  '*    ro  '* 

15-0   "  --18-2   *' 

The  following  Table  shows  the  amount  pro- 
duced annually  by  a  single  animal  of  the  kind 
named,  and  its  value,  assuming  the  phosphoric 
acid  to  be  soluble,  and  the  nitrogen  as  actual 
ammonia.  • 

Pliosphoric 
Amount.  acid.  Potash.        Ammonia.  Yalue. 

Pig  200 lbs.  1-6     lbs.     1-0  lbs.     1-7  lbs.=  $0.62 


Horse  2000  "  24-4  "  56-0 

Cow  2000  ''  10-4  "  210 

Chicken  5  ''  0*076  ''      0'03 

Sheep  50  "  1-27  *'       0-35 

Human  100  '*  0-33  ''      O'lO 


13-0    "  =  9.94 

8-5    "  =■  5.15 

0-13  ''  ^  .04 

0-42  "  =  .40 

1-80  ''  =  .50 


By  the  above  Tables,  the  farmer  can  ascertain 
the  value  of  the  excrements  derived  from  the 
stock  he  keeps;  they  will  also  show  to  some 
farmers  the  money  value  of  substances  they  allow 
to  go  to  waste,  and  will  serve  to  correct  the 
extravagant  ideas  of  others,  who  attribute  to 
stable  manure  and  droppings  of  animals  a  higher 
value  than  it  really  possesses. 

City  Stable  Manures. — A  cart  load  of  the 
stable  manure,  usually  purchased  by  farmers 
from  the  dealers  in  cities,  and  for  which  they 


168  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

pay   $1,    should   weigh    at   least    1000  lbs. ;    it 
usually  weighs  only  from  500  lbs.  to  800  lbs. 

The  average  value  of  1000  lbs.  of  this  manure, 
if  as  good  as  ordinary  barn-yard  manure,  wJilch 
is  not  the  case^  is  as  follows  : 

Pure  dung 150  lbs.,  worth $0.70 

Straw  or  other  litter 400  ''         "       0.49 

Water  and  useless  matter     450  "         "       0.00 

1000  "         ''        Yalue  $1-19 

If  the  farmer  gets  1000  lbs.  of  a  quality  equal 
to  barn-yard  manure,  for  $1,  it  costs  him  as 
much  as  the  same  amount  of  the  fertilizing 
elements  would  in  Peruvian  Guano;  but  when 
the  greater  cost  of  transportation  and  application 
to  the  soil  is  counted,  it  costs  him  much  more. 

The  great  object  of  the  parties  engaged  in  this 
dung  business  in  cities,  is  to  buy  the  largest 
possible  loads  for  the  smallest  amount  of  money 
from  the  stable  keepers,  and  then  to  sell  the 
smallest  possible  loads  for  the  largest  amount  of 
money  to  the  farmers.  To  accomplish  this,  they 
have  carts  of  two  sizes;  when  they  buy  they  use 
the  large  size,  when  they  sell  they  use  the  small. 
When  they  buy,  they  pack  in  as  much  as  their 
large  carts  wall  hold ;  when  they  sell,  the  small 
carts  are  filled  as  lightly  as  possible,  by  trained 
men  who  understand  the  art  of  filling  a  cart 
with  a  very  small  amount  of  material.  Nor  is 
this  all.    After  collecting  from  the  stable  keepers, 


VALUE    OF    STABLE    MANURE.  169 

they  work  directly  against  the  interest  of  the 
buyer,  by  sprinkling  their  heaps  with  water  and 
then  shaking  them  out  to  check  fermentation, 
and  thus  loss  of  bulk.  This  practice  of  watering 
and  shaking  out,  besides  preventing  fermentation, 
lessens  greatly  the  value  of  the  manure  by  wash- 
ing out  the  elements  of  the  urine — the  most 
valuable  part  of  it — and  also  by  removing  the 
ammonia  and  soluble  salts  of  the  solid  excre- 
ment. By  such  means  many  of  these  dung 
mercliants  accumulate  large  fortunes  in  a  few 
years ;  and  the  farmer  in  this,  as  in  some  other 
forms  of  manure,  confounds  bulk  with  quality, 
and  prefers  a  large  mass  of  almost  worthless 
matter  to  a  little  of  what  is  valuable. 

We  shall  now  show  the  value  of  1000  lbs.  of 
well-rotted  and  air-dried  stable  manure,  calculated 
from  the  analysis  of  Dr.  Voelcker : 

Water  and  organic  )  ^^^  ,, 

,   ,.,         ;,         \ 670  lbs. 

volatile  matter     j 

Ammonia 30''     $7.50 

Phosphoric  Acid 18  •'     2.25 

Potash..... 20"     LGO 


Total  .$11.35 

A  ton  would  be  worth  $22.70,  or  equal  in  real 
value  to  a  ton  of  many  of  the  commercial  fertil- 
izers sold  for  $40  or  $50.  The  importance  of 
the  fermentation  and  rotting  of  manures,  and 
subsequent  drying,  cannot  be  overestimated.     It 


170  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

saves  in  the  cost  of  transportation  and  labor  of 
applying,  as  well  as  presents  the  valuable  salts 
in  soluble  form,  directly  available  for  the  wants 
of  the  plant  to  give  it  a  vigorous  and  healthy 
start ;  while  plants  manured  with  unfermented, 
unrotted  manure,  are  deprived  of  what  they 
need  until  these  operations  have  taken  place  in 
the  soil.  Oftentimes  by  this  cause  they  are  so 
stunted  in  the  beginning,  that  no  subsequent 
application  will  make  amends  for  the  injury 
then  done. 

We  shall  now  give  the  value  of  the  urine  of 
different  animals,  as  shown  by  the  fertilizing 
salts  contained  in  1000  lbs.  of  each  : 


Water. 

Phosphoric  Acid 

1.  Potash. 

Nitrogen.    =    Ammonia. 

Pig    Urine, 

9-29  lb! 

3.       trace, 

6-0  lbs. 

11.8  lbs.  =  14-3  lbs. 

Horse    *' 

9-40  " 

trace. 

2-8  " 

15-4  ''    =  18-7  " 

Cow       '' 

9-23  '^ 

trace. 

4-5  " 

4-4  "    =    5-3  " 

Sheep     " 

9-65  •' 

1-3  lbs. 

7-2  " 

13-1  "    =  15-9  " 

Human  " 

9-57  " 

4-0  '' 

2-0  '' 

14-2  "    =-  17-2  " 

The  following  Table  shows  the  amount  pro- 
duced annually  by  a  single  animal  of  the  kind 
named,  and  its  value  as  manure,  when  fermen- 
ted: 


Yearly 
amount. 

Phosphoric 
Acid. 

Potash. 

Ammonia. 

Value. 

Pig   Urine 

1000  lbs. 

trace. 

6-0  lbs. 

14-3  lbs. 

$4.00 

Horse    " 

2000  " 

trace, 

5-0  '^ 

37-4  '' 

9.79 

Cow       " 

2000  '' 

trace, 

9-0  " 

8-8  '' 

2.92 

Sheep    " 

500  '' 

0-6  lbs. 

3-6  " 

8-0  '' 

2.35 

lliiinan" 

750  " 

30  " 

1-5  '' 

10-7  '^ 

3.16 

VALUE    OF   EXCREMENTS.  171 

The  solid  and  liquid  excretions  taken  to- 
gether^ will  show  the  following  annual  value: 

Pig  Excrements,  solid  and  liquid, $  4.62 

Horse        "  "  *'     19.73 

Cow  "  "  "     8.07 

Sheep         "  "  "     2.75 

Human      "  "  "     3.66 

From  these  Tables,  it  is  plain  that  too  much 
care  cannot  be  exercised  in  preserving  the  excre- 
ments of  man  and  animals.  Every  pound  of 
ammonia  that  is  lost  or  evaporates,  represents 
the  amount  required  for  a  bushel  of  corn ;  and 
every  pound  of  the  urine  of  a  horse  or  man,  will 
furnish  sufficient  ammonia  for  a  pound  of  wheat; 
and  two  and  a  half  pounds  of  the  urine  of  man 
will  furnish  the  phosphoric  acid,  and  more  than 
half  of  the  potash  required  for  a  pound  of  wheat. 

The  foregoing  Tables  will  also  show  the  far- 
mer the  value  of  the  manure,  and  its  capacity 
for  raising  crops,  as  estimated  from  the  average 
amount  of  stock  kept  on  his  farm. 

When  we  consider  the  great  value  of  the 
excretions  of  man  and  animals,  it  is  astonishing 
that  so  little  attention  is  paid  to  preserving 
them.  These  substances,  which  are  compara- 
tively lost  in  our  large  cities  and  towns,  repre- 
sent a  value  of  millions  of  dollars  annually.  If 
the  average  value  of  the  excretions  of  the  in- 
habitants of  large  cities  be   set  down  at  two 

12 


172  AMERICAN    MANURES. 

dollars  for  each,  which  is  a  low  estimate,  the 
reader  can  readily  see  the  immense  value  of  what 
is  yearly  wasted. 

Swamp  Muck  is  a  deposit  of  vegetable  matter 
in  low  swampy  places;  it  is  in  fact  partially 
formed  peat.  It  is  usually  formed  of  mosses, 
grasses,  leaves,  and  branches  of  trees,  partially 
decomposed,  and  in  a  very  condensed  form. 
As  the  most  of  these  deposits  have  been  accumu- 
lating for  centuries,  they  have  become  valuable 
stores  of  the  fertilizing  elements — often  much 
more  valuable  than  stable  manure.  Professor 
Johnson  gives  the  average  potential  ammonia  in 
33  samples,  in  the  dry  state,  examined  by  him, 
as  3*14  per  cent.  This  alone  would  make  the 
dried  muck  worth  $6.34  per  ton.  He  did  not 
determine  the  valuable  inorganic  matters,  such 
as  phosphoric  acid,  potash,  etc. ;  but  it  should 
contain  a  large  amount  of  them. 

As  many  farmers  have  deposits  of  this  kind 
on  their  farms,  they  will  see  the  importance  of 
utilizing  them.  Every  opportunity  should  be 
taken  to  procure  and  dry  as  much  of  this  sub- 
stance as  j)ossible.  When  in  a  dry  state,  the 
absorbent  properties  of  dried  muck  is  remarkable. 
The  most  putrid  and  offensive  liquids  may  be- 
filtered  through  it,  and  the  water  will  come 
through  perfectly  pure  and  tasteless,  the  muck 
absorbing  all  the  soluble  salts  and  volatile  gases. 


SOURCES   OF    PHOSPHORIC   ACID.  173 

This  shows  the  advantages  gained  by  using  dried 
muck,  around  stables  and  enclosures  where 
cattle,  sheep  or  hogs  are  kept,  thus  absorbing 
and  deodorizing  the  liquid  and  solid  excrements. 
Sometimes  the  application  of  muck  in  its 
natural  state,  is  not  followed  by  any  beneficial 
effects,  and  in  some  cases  it  has  been  positively 
injurious.  This  may  be  explained  as  follows : 
All  vegetable  substances  undergoing  oxidation 
or  decomposition  attain  a  seeming  inert  or  fixed 
state;  and  without  the  application  or  action  of 
some  powerful  agency,  such  as  lime,  will  remain 
in  that  condition  for  long  ages ;  and  when  sub- 
jected to  certain  influences,  such  as  heat  and 
great  pressure,  while  in  that  state,  will  eventu- 
ally form  coal.  We  are  indebted  to  this  pro- 
perty of  decaying  vegetable  matter,  for  the  vast 
stores  of  peat  and  coal  that  are  stored  up  in  the 
earth.  Without  this  property,  all  organic  sub- 
stances would  be  speedily  dissipated,  as  carbonic 
acid  gas,  ammonia,  etc. ;  and  even  the  mould,  or 
organic  portion  of  soils,  would  be  resoh^ed  into  a 
gaseous  state  and  be  dissipated  in  the  atmos- 
phere. Although  this  property  of  partially 
decayed  organic  matter  is  the  cause  of  its  pre- 
servation, it  materially  unfits  it  for  the  produc- 
tion of  cultivated  plants,  as  it  cannot,  in  this 
inert  condition,  give  out  enough  to  support 
them  \  and  it  is  not  improbable  that  it  imparts, 


174  AMERICAN    MANURES. 

to  some  extent^  the  same  property  to  the  soils  to 
which  it  is  applied  in  large  amount,  and  besides, 
favors  the  growth  of  many  noxious  weeds.  A 
similar  condition  exists  in  old  meadow  lands 
that  have  lain  fallow  for  years,  which  the  farmer 
terms  sour,  and  which  are  invariably  benefited 
by  the  application  of  lime.  Hence  the  import- 
ance of  composting  swamp  muck  and  peat,  to 
effect  what  may  be  termed  the  second  stage  of 
decomposition,  which  will  render  it  available  as 
food  for  cultivated  plants.  Some  authorities 
recommend  the  burning  of  peat,  and  the  subse- 
quent application  of  the  ashes,  as  a  manure. 
Those  who  recommend  such  a  course  have  but 
a  superficial  knowledge  of  its  composition ;  the 
most  valuable  portion  of  it  is  the  nitrogen  or 
potential  ammonia,  Avhich  would  be  entirely  lost 
by  this  process ;  and  besides,  the  value  of  the 
ash  in  furnishing  the  organic  elements  of  plants, 
would  not  repay  the  farmer  for  his  trouble. 

Mud,  as  found  in  the  bottoms  of  ponds,  ditches, 
and  sunken  places,  has  a  very  different  composi- 
tion from  swamp  muck.  Still  some  deposits  of 
mud  are  valuable  as  manure,  and  would  amply 
repay  the  farmer  to  collect  and  ajDply  it.  As  it 
contains  only  a  small  amount  of  organic  remains, 
it  has  but  little  value  in  composting. 

Dried  Earth. — The  absorbent  and  deodorizing 
properties  of  dried  earth,  and  the  benefits  that 


WOOD  AND  COAL  ASHES.         175 

would  be  derived  from  its  use  around  stables  and 
cattle-sheds,  by  catching  and  absorbing  the  liquid 
droppings  of  animals,  is  too  little  understood  or 
appreciated  by  farmers.  A  large  amount  of 
valuable  manure  could  be  prepared  yearly  by 
this  means  alone,  without  much  trouble  or  ex- 
pense, as  the  urine  of  animals — the  most  valuable 
portion — is  too  often  allowed  to  go  to  waste. 

The  Leaves  of  Trees,  when  well  rotted  in  the 
compost  pile,  is  a  very  valuable  source  of  fertil- 
izing elements,  as  the  following  Table,  showing 
the  amount  of  the  substances  named,  contained  in 
different  varieties  in  their  dry  state,  demonstrates : 


Phosplioric  acid. 

Potash. 

Lime. 

Mulberry 

Leaves.  0*36  per 

cent. 

0-69  pel 

•  cent. 

0-90] 

per  cent. 

Horse-chestn't  " 

0-61 

1-47 

3-04 

Walnut 

" 

0-28 

1-86 

3-76 

Beech 

(( 

0-28 

0-35 

303 

Oak 

" 

0-40 

0-17 

2-38 

Fir 

<' 

0-23 

0-14 

0-58 

Red  Pine 

ii 

0-48 

0-09 

0-88 

From  the  above  Table  the  farmer  can  readily 
estimate  the  value  of  these  substances,  and  see 
how  far  they  will  enable  him  to  produce  valuable 
crops.  To  render  them  immediately  available 
as  plant  food,  they  should  be  intimately  mixed 
with  the  other  ingredients  of  the  compost  heap. 

Wood  and  Coal  Ashes  contain  a  variable 
amount  of  potash  and  phosphoric  acid.  The 
former  would  amply  repay  the  farmer  for   ap- 


176  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

plying  them ;  but  to  render  them  more  i^n- 
mediately  available  as  food  for  plants,  they 
should  be  thoroughly  incorporated  with  the 
compost  pile,  as  will  be  shown;  100  lbs.  of  the 
varieties  of  wood  and  coal  ashes  given,  contain 
the  following  amounts  of  potash  and  phosphoric 
acid,  with  its  value  for  agricultural  purposes 
annexed,  estimating  the  phosphoric  acid  as  in- 
soluble, at  4  J  cents  per  lb. 

Phosphoric  acid.    Potash.  Value  of  100  lbs. 

Beech 5-3  lbs.  16-1  lbs.  $1.51 

Birch 8-5  '^  11-6  "  1.45 

Oak 5-5  "  10-0  "  1.05 

Walnut 12-2"  153  "  1.77 

Poplar 13-1"  14-0  "  1.71 

Apple 4-6  '*  12-0  "  1.16 

RedPine 5*1  '^  5*2  "  .64 

Coal  Ashes  [anthracite) '5  "  0-15  "  .3 

Peat       ''                             ....  20  "  0-2  "  .11 

The  phosphoric  acid  contained  in  ashes,  is 
combined  Avith  peroxide  of  iron,  magnesia  and 
lime;  but  as  it  is  in  a  finely  divided  state,  the 
action  of  the  carbonic  acid  generated  in  the  com- 
post pile  will  liberate  it  from  its  bases,  and 
render  it  immediately  available  to  plants  in  a 
soluble  state,  worth  12 J  cents  per  lb.  The 
leaching  of  wood  ashes  does  not  remove  aiii/  of 
the  phosphoric  acid,  nor  all  of  the  potash ;  this 
fact  explains  the  value  of  what  is  termed  spent 
ashes  as  a  manure.  Hence,  formers  can  see  the 
importance  of  emptying  their  old  ash  gums  and 


MARL.  177 

barrels,  and  thereby  getting  a  return  for  their 
contents  in  the  shape  of  wheat  and  corn.  The 
reader  can  also  see,  from  the  Table  given,  that 
wood  ashes  is  worth  as  much,  pound  for  pound, 
as  many  of  the  leading  commercial  fertilizers 
that  cost  the  farmer  $50  per  ton. 

Coal  and  peat  ashes  do  not  furnish  much  of 
the  ingredients  required  as  food  by  plants,  but 
their  application  would  have  a  beneficial  physical 
effect  on  some  heavy  compact  soils ;  and  as  these 
substances  cannot  possibly  do  injury  to  any  soil, 
farmers  should  spread  them  over  their  land,  and 
not  let  them  lie  in  unsightly  piles  about  their 
houses  and  yards. 

Soot  from  our  chimneys  and  stove-pipes  has  a 
value  as  manure,  but  it  is  entirely  neglected  in 
this  country.  English  farmers  have  derived 
great  benefit  from  its  application.  Where  wood 
and  bituminous  coal  are  used  for  fuel,  thousands 
of  tons  are  yearly  wasted.  The  following 
Table  shows  the  quantity  of  fertilizing  elements 
generally  contained  in  1000  lbs.  of  soot,  and 
their  value : 

Gypsum  or  Plaster 50  lbs.  $0,75 

Phosphoric  Acid 7  "  O.Sli- 

Potash 10  ''  0.80 

Ammonia.. 17  '*.  4.25 

Total $6.67i 

Marl  is  a  term  used  to  designate  earthy  sub- 
stances containing  a  variable  amount  of  carbonate 


178  AMERICAN  MANURES. 

of  lime,  supposed  to  be  derived  principally  from 
the  shells  of  fishes.  The  amount  of  carbonate 
of  lime  is  usually  from  10  to  20  per  cent.  There 
is  a  great  variety  of  substances  designated  as 
marl,  but  they  may  all  be  reduced  to  four  general 
kinds :  clay,  stone,  shell,  and  green-sand  marl. 
The  first  very  nearly  resembles  clay ;  this  variety 
usually  contains  from  10  to  20  per  cent,  of  car- 
bonate of  lime,  and  its  value  as  a  manure  must 
be  attributed  to  the  action  of  that  substance. 
Stone  marls  are  generally  richer  in  carbonate  of 
lime  than  the  clay  varieties,  and  are  a  nearer 
approach  to  the  ordinary  carbonate  of  lime. 
Shell  marl  contains  a  large  amount  of  shells 
partially  decomposed ;  its  action  on  soils  is  more 
immediate,  because  it  is  more  soluble  than  the 
clay  and  stone  varieties.  Green-sand  marl  is 
most  valuable  of  all;  it  generally  contains  a 
small  percentage  of  carbonate  of  lime,  seldom  ex- 
ceeding 5  per  cent.,  while  it  contains  potash  in  an 
insoluble  condition  in  amounts  varying  from  2 
to  7  per  cent.  It  is  by  some  considered  quite  as 
valuable,  weight  for  weight,  as  wood  ashes;  it 
also  generally  contains  a  small  amount  of  in- 
soluble phosphoric  acid,  and  its  application  on 
what  were  considered  worn  out  lands  has  been 
followed  by  remarkable  results.  Where  these 
marls  abound,  they  are  a  cheap  and  efficient 
manure    for    the    farmer,    and    should    not    be 


GREEN    MANURING.  179 

neglected ;  marl  also  forms  a  valuable  adjunct  to 
the  compost  pile. 

Green  Manuring  consists  in  plowing  under  any 
crop  that  has  been  grown  for  that  purpose.  It 
has  been  recommended  and  practised  for  cen- 
turies. Spent  or  worn  out  soils  are  especially 
benefited  by  this  operation,  and  no  soils  can  be 
so  far  reduced,  unless  they  refus.e  to  grow  any 
kind  of  vegetation,  that  they  cannot  be  improved 
by  this  means.  The  least  thought  devoted  to 
tlie  subject  will  convince  the  reader  of  its  su- 
periority over  paring  and  burning,  or  leaving 
the  land  Mlow.  In  the  former  case,  the  act  of 
burning  dissipates  all  the  nitrogen,  the  most 
valuable  part,  and  the  ash  contains  the  other 
fertilizing  substance  in  an  insoluhle  condition,  pot- 
ash excepted,  because  the  greater  part  of  the  car- 
bonic acid  formed,  which  is  naturally  the  principal 
agent  in  rendering  them  soluble,  is  dissipated ; 
while,  on  the  other  hand,  when  plowed  under, 
the  carbonic  acid  is  slowly  given  out  during  the 
process  of  decay,  and  so  makes  the  elements 
soluble.  The  gradual  decay  of  vegetation  on 
the  surface  of  the  land  produces  a  like  result, 
though  in  a  less  degree. 

Hy  growing  plants  with  long  roots,  such  as 
clover  and  some  kinds  of  grasses,  and  root  crops, 
such  as  beets,  carrots,  etc.,  the  fertilizing  ele- 
ments often  contained  in  the  subsoil  are  broudit 


180  AMERICAN    MANURES. 

to  the  surface ;  and  then  by  plowhig  the  crop 
under  it  soon  decays,  and  the  fertilizing  elements 
contained  are  stored  up  for  future  crops.  In 
practising  green  manuring,  the  farmer  has  to 
sacrifice  an  immediate  benefit  for  a  greater  future 
good,  which  may  sometimes  be  considered  of 
doubtful  advantaf>:e.  But  when  he  has  once 
tried  the  experiment,  and  noted  its  effects  on 
future  crops,  he  will  find  not  only  the  value  of  the 
crop  plowed  under  returned  to  him,  but  a  large 
percentage  in  addition.  Besides  all  this,  the 
previous  plowing  is  paid  for,  in  making  subse- 
quent cultivation  easier,  and  in  rendering  the 
soil  in  a  more  finely  divided  state,  which  is  a 
very  important  consideration  in  growing  all 
kinds  of  crops. 

To  derive  the  most  benefit  from  green  manur- 
ing, the  plowing  should  be  performed  before  the 
formation  of  the  blossom,  or  seed,  as  the  blossoms 
give  ofi*  nitrogen,  and  the  seeds  may  become  a 
subsequent  source  of  trouble ;  also,  the  plowing 
should  be  shallow,  so  as  to  keep  the  vegetable 
matter  near  the  surface,  and  within  easy  access 
of  the  oxygen  of  the  atmosphere.  But  the 
reader  must  not  think  for  a  moment  that  green 
manuring  alone  is  sufficient  to  keep  his  land  in  a 
fertile  condition.  The  benefits  derived  from  this 
treatment  of  the  land  can  exist  only  for  a  lim- 
ited period,  and  the  subsoil  must  eventually  be- 


COMPOSTING.  181 

come  exhausted  as  well  as  the  surface.  The 
prudent  farmer  must  anticipate  this  state  of 
things^  by  the  application  of  other  manures. 

Finally,  we  may  remark  that  mere  rest,  with- 
out plowing ;  or  the  non-production  of  any  vege- 
table substances  on  a  soil,  does  not  benefit  it.  It 
is  growing  vegetation  that  effects  the  needed 
chemical  changes  in  the  soil.  Hence  the  farmer 
should  endeavor  by  all  means  to  promote  the 
growth  of  as  many  plants  as  possible,  on  the 
land  he  intends  to  plow  under  for  the  production 
of  another  crop. 

Liquid  Manures  are  held  in  high  repute  in 
some  countries,  on  the  principle  that  it  is  better 
to  manure  the  plant  than  the  soil.  It  may  be 
employed  advantageously  in  truck  farming,  but 
is  not  at  all  suited  to  the  general  agriculture  of 
this  country.  If  the  farmer  has  a  valuable  liquid 
or  semi-liquid  fertilizing  substance,  it  is  much 
better  to  mix  it  with  dried  muck,  or  mould,  and 
apply  it  in  as  dry  a  state  as  possible ;  thus  di- 
vesting its  application  of  its  disagreeable  features, 
and  preventing  the  escape  of  the  most  valuable 
portion  of  it — the  ammonia. 

Composting.  This  highly  important  operation 
is  too  often  neglected  by  our  farmers.  This  ne- 
glect very  probably  results  from  ignorance  of  the 
great  benefits  that  can  be  derived  from  it.  The 
reader  has  acquired  a  knowledge  of  the  value  of 


*  182  AMERICAN    MANURES. 

the  waste  substances  accessible  to  the  farmer, 
and  which  can  be  economically  applied  as  mar 
nures.  He  has  also  been  informed  of  the  neces- 
sity of  having  these  substances  in  a  decomposed 
state,  in  order  to  make  them  ellicient. 

To  be  successful  in  composting,  it  is  necessary 
for  the  farmer  to  have  correct  ideas  of  the  chem- 
ical changes  and  effects  to  be  produced,  and  of 
the  means  and  appliances  by  which  these  changes 
can  be  economically  effected;  he  should  also 
know  the  conditions  that  promote  or  impede 
these  changes.  In  the  proper  management  of  a 
compost  heap,  two  leading  points  are  to  be  at- 
tained ;  First,  the  hastening  of  the  decomposition 
of  the  substances  used ;  Second,  the  fixing  of  the 
fertilizing  gases  as  they  are  formed.  No  offensive 
odors  should  escape.  When  such  escape,  some 
substance  should  be  applied  at  once  to  check  it. 

Some  persons  have  recommended  making  the 
heap  in  a  circular  conical  shape,  wdth  a  well  in 
the  centre  to  catch  the  drainage,  and  with  a 
common  w^ooden  pump  set  in  it,  so  that  as  the 
drainage  collects,  it  can  be  pumped  up  and  al- 
low^ed  to  trickle  over  the  top  of  the  heap,  and 
thoroughly  permeate  it.  There  are  two  vital 
disadvantages  attending  this  method,  which  we 
will  point  out :  First,  the  amount  of  heat  produced 
is  a  correct  index  of  the  rapidity  wdth  wdiich  the 
decomposition  is  being  effected;  and  any  applica- 


COMPOSTING.  183 

tion  of  water  operates  to  diminish  the  heat  already 
generated,  and  consequently  to  retard  the  decompo- 
sition. All  the  substances  commonly  used  in  com- 
post heaps,  contain  a  much  larger  amount  of  water 
than  is  needed  to  aid  decomposition ;  it  is  the 
oxygen  of  the  atmosphere,  not  water,  that  is 
most  needed.  The  second  disadvantage  attend- 
ing this  pumping  and  sprinkling  operation,  is 
the  loss  of  the  free  ammonia  contained  in  the 
water,  which  escapes  into  the  atmosphere.  This 
should  not  be  assisted  by  agitating  the  water, 
but  should  be  prevented  by  the  proper  agencies. 
We  recommend  the  following  mode  of  opera- 
tion, which  obviates  all  the  disadvantages  of  the 
former  method,  and  which  will  recommend  itself 
by  saving  a  great  deal  of  labor  in  the  subsequent 
working  : — An  elevated  piece  of  ground,  as  near 
to  the  materials  as  convenient,  should  be  select- 
ed— the  side  of  a  gradual  incline,  if  possible. 
The  intended  compost  heap  should  be  from  ten 
to  fifteen  feet  wide  at  the  base,  with  both  sides 
regularly  inclining  toward  the  centre,  like  the 
roof  of  a  house;  the  heap  to  extend  lengthwise, 
as  far  as  needed,  up  and  down  the  incline.  This 
arrangement  prevents  any  accumulation  of  water 
around  the  heap,  and  also  lessens  the  labor  of 
turning  over,  as  the  heap  may  be  turned  down- 
hill. The  next  consideration  is  to  prepare  the 
bottom,  or  the  drainage.     Of  course  none  of  the 


184  AMERICAN    MANURES. 

fertilizing  moisture  contained  in  the  material 
should  be  lost,  neither  should  there  be  any  addi- 
tions to  it  in  the  shape  of  rain  water.  To  effect 
this,  a  ditch  should  be  dug  lengthwise  of  the  in- 
tended heap.  This  drain,  at  the  lower  end, 
should  extend  several  feet  beyond  the  heap,  and 
be  six  inches  below  the  level  of  the  ground.  It 
should  have  a  gradual  ascent  of  one  or  two  feet, 
according  to  the  length  of  the  heap.  The  bot- 
tom should  incline  towards  the  ditch,  the  dirt 
taken  from  which  will  generally  be  sufficient  for 
this  purpose.  The  following  plan  is  an  end  view 
of  the  compost  heap,  showing  the  shape  of  the 
bottom,  and  the  ditch  for  drainage : 


The  sides  and  bottom  of  the  centre  drain 
should  be  boarded,  and  the  top  covered  with  any 
rough  pieces  of  board  or  wood,  with  apertures 
close  enough  to  prevent  the  compost  from  falling 
through,  and  still  give  free  passage  to  the  drain- 


COMPOSTING.  185 

age  water  into  the  ditch.  The  farmer  would  also 
consult  his  interest  by  having  the  floor  of  the 
heap  covered  entirely  with  boards. 

Everything  being  prepared  for  constructing 
the  heap,  we  will  make  a  few  suggestions  about 
the  collection  and  depositing  the  materials  pre- 
paratory to  mixing.  Barn-yard  manure  and 
muck  are  the  principal  ingredients.  Every  cart 
load  of  barn-yard  manure  should  be  mixed  with 
two  cart  loads  of  swamp  muck,  or  with  any 
other  deposit  that  contains  plenty  of  vegetable 
matter,  except  weeds  that  have  gone  to  seed. 
The  muck  should  be  dug  in  a  dry  season,  and 
spread  out,  so  that  it  may  be  deprived  of  a  great 
deal  of  its  water,  which  will  greatly  lessen  the 
labor  and  expense  of  hauling  it  to  the  compost 
heap  ;  and  when  there,  it  will  be  in  much  better 
condition  for  fermentation  and  consequent  de- 
composition. The  materials  should  be  hauled 
to  the  heap  in  the  proper  proportions,  so  that 
they  can  be  thoroughly  mixed,  and  the  work  of 
piling  up  be  commenced  at  one  end,  and  the 
heap  be  finished  to  the  top  as  fast  as  sufficient 
material  is  procured.  The  advantage  gained  by 
this  course,  over  that  of  putting  layer  upon 
layer  over  the  whole  ground  plan  of  the  heap,  is 
that  if  the  heap  is  finished  as  you  proceed,  fer- 
mentation sets  in  sooner;  and  as  the  pile  gradu- 
ally lengthens^   the  ferijienting   process    passes 


186  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

the  whole  length  of  it;  so  that  by  the  time  the 
farmer  has  collected  all  his  material  and  finished 
the  heap,  that  part  of  it  which  was  first  com- 
pletedj  will  probably  be  ready  to  turn  over.  The 
heap,  when  finished,  should  be  covered  with  a 
temporary  roof,  to  keep  out  the  rain. 

When  the  fiirmer  is  collecting  material  for  his 
compost,  nothing  should  be  overlooked.  In 
addition  to  his  stable  manure,  his  hog  pens 
should  be  thoroughly  cleared,  and  all  the  night 
soil,  chicken  dung,  wood  and  coal  ashes,  saw- 
dust, leaves,  corn-stalks,  straw,  soap  suds,  fish  or 
meat  brine,  and  even  old  mortar,  should  be 
thoroughly  mixed  together  in  the  heap ;  and  to 
every  load  of  material,  20  to  25  lbs.  of  plaster 
or  gypsum  should  be  added,  for  reasons  that  will 
be  presently  shown.  When  the  farmer  has 
brought  all  together,  he  will  astonish  even  him- 
self by  the  amount  he  has  procured ;  and  if  he 
attends  to  our  directions,  he  will  be  far  more 
astonished  at  the  results,  as  shown  in  greatly 
increased  crops. 

The  most  valuable  substances  contained  in 
the  material  of  the  compost  heap  are  Silicate  of 
Potash,  Phosphate  of  Lime,  and  Nitrogen  as 
Potential  Ammonia.  The  chemical  changes 
effected  on  these  substances  by  fermentation 
may  be  briefly  stated,  as  follows :  Fermentation 
and  putrefaction  are    generally  considered  dis- 


SOLUBLE   PHOSPHORIC   ACID.  187 

tinct  processes,  but  the  chemical  operation  of 
each  is  precisely  the  same ;  it  is  simply  a  union 
of  the  carbon  contained  in  the  dead  vegetable  or 
animal  matter,  with  the  oxygen  of  the  atmos- 
phere, or  the  oxygen  of  the  water  present  in  the 
substance.  This  chemical  union  of  oxygen  and 
carbon  produces  carbonic  acid  gas,  the  properties 
of  which  have  been  fully  explained.  The 
action  of  this  gas'  on  the  silicate  of  potash, 
separates  the  potash  from  the  silica  and  forms 
carbonate  of  potash,  the  silica  being  liberated, 
as  hydrated  silica.  This  change  renders  both 
substances  immediately  available,  as  food  for 
plants.  Before  the  change,  they  were  in  an 
insoluble  condition,  and,  if  contained  in  unrotted 
straw,  might  remain  in  the  soil  a  year  or  more, 
without  benefiting  growing  vegetation.  As  the 
phosphate  of  lime  contained  in  plants  is  in  the 
most  finely  divided  state,  the  carbonic  acid 
attacks  and  decomposes  this  compound,  forming 
carbonate  of  lime,  and  liberating  the  phosphoric 
acid  in  a  soluble  condition,  for  the  use  of  the 
plant. 

There  is  a  remarkable  chemical  law,  namely : 
that  some  elements  have  no  affinity  for  each 
other,  and  hence  will  not  form  compounds  unless 
one  or  the  other  is  present  in  what  is  termed  the 
nascent  state^  that  is,  the  state  in  which  it  ex- 
ists at  the  moment  it  is  separated  from  a  pre- 

13 


188  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

vious  state  of  combination.  For  example;  the 
two  gases,  nitrogen  and  hydrogen,  the  elements 
of  ammonia,  may  be  mechanically  mixed,  but  no 
chemical  combination  will  ensue.  But  should 
nitrogen  be  present  when  water  is  being  decom- 
posed, the  hydrogen  being  in  the  nascent  state, 
actual  ammonia  will  at  once  be  formed. 

As  sulphate  of  lime  or  land  plaster — which  is 
a  compound  of  sulphuric  acid,  lime  and  water — 
is  present  in  the  heap,  the  carbonate  of  ammonia 
formed,  decomposes  the  above  compound,  pro- 
ducing carbonate  of  lime  and  sulphate  of  am- 
monia, which  is  a  stable  compound,  very  soluble 
in  water.  The  formation  of  this  salt  prevents 
loss  from  the  volatilization  of  the  ammonia. 
This  is  the  object  in  applying  it  in  the  heap. 
From  this  the  farmer  can  realize  the  importance 
of  applying  plaster  to  his  compost  heap.  Still, 
it  must  be  added  with  discretion,  and  not  in 
larger  quantity  than  we  have  recommended ;  if 
too  much  is  added,  it  will  check  the  fermenta- 
tion, and  thus  defeat  the  object  to  be  attained  by 
composting;  100  lbs.  of  ordinary  unburnt  ground 
gypsum  will  fix  nearly  20  lbs.  of  ammonia. 
The  sulphuric  acid  of  the  gypsum  will  also  act 
beneficially,  in  decomposing  the  mineral  sub- 
stances contained  in  the  vegetable  remains. 
The  ammonia  formed  in  the  compost  heap  often- 
times undergoes  another  change,  which  may  be 


THE    COMPOST   HEAP.  189 

termed  oxidation ;  being  changed  from  an  alkali 
to  an  acid,  forming  nitrates  of  potash,  soda,  and 
lime,  if  these  bases  are  present.  Some  chemists 
hold  the  opinion  that  the  nitrogen  contained  in 
these  compounds,  is  far  more  valuable  than  as  it 
is  presented  in  ammonia ;  but  this  is  a  difficult 
matter  to  decide,  and  more  extended  experiments 
are  required,  to  enable  us  to  give  a  positive 
opinion  on  the  subject.  As  far  as  our  present 
knowledge  of  the  matter  goes,  they  are  equally 
valuable,  although  it  is  proved  that  the  ammo- 
nia is  more  permanent  in  the  soil  than  nitric  acid. 

A  valuable  addition  to  the  compost  heap,  is 
ground  bones.  This  substance  furnishes  both 
phosphoric  acid  and  nitrogen ;  and  if  the  bones 
are  mixed  with  an  equal  weight  of  finely  ground 
gypsum,  and  fully  incorporated  with  the  heap, 
the  farmer  will  produce  his  own  soluble  phos- 
phoric acid,  at  less  than  half  the  cost  he  would 
have  to  pay  for  it,  if  purchased  from  the  manu- 
facturers. Again,  when  the  pile  is  turned  over 
— an  operation  that  must  be  attended  to  in  order 
to  produce  good  results — should  the  farmer  de- 
tect the  smell  of  escaping  ammonia,  another 
light  sprinkle  of  plaster  must  be  applied. 

The  time  required  to  produce  fermentation, 
varies  with  the  season  ;  in  summer,  the  heap 
may  commence  heating  in  from  six  to  ten  days ; 
but   in  winter,  it    will  require   as  many  weeks. 


190  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

When  it  sets  in,  the  heat  gradually  increases 
until  it  has  reached  a  certain  point;  then  it 
decreases,  until  it  is  imperceptible.  The  pile 
should  then  be  shovelled  over,  and  a  second  fer- 
mentation will  take  place  as  before  ;  this  cooling 
of  the  pile  being  caused  by  the  exhaustion  of 
available  oxygen  in  the  mass.  If  the  farmer 
has  attended  to  applying  gypsum  as  directed, 
there  will  be  no  loss  or  damage  produced  by 
overheating. 

A  great  deal  of  vapor  is  formed  during  the 
fermentation,  and  a  part  of  it  escapes  into  the 
atmosphere.  The  farmer  should  be  careful  to 
note  whether  it  contains  any  ammonia,  which 
he  can  do  by  the  smell.  If  it  does,  a  light 
sprinkle  of  gypsum,  with  a  little  dry  earth,  will 
prevent  loss.  Part  of  the  vapor  condenses  as  it 
approaches  the  surface  of  the  heap,  and  will 
gradually  find  its  way  into  the  drain ;  and  as  it 
flows  out,  it  can  be  mixed  with  earth  or  muck, 
and  a  little  plaster,  and  thrown  on  the  heap. 

One  great  mistake  commonly  made  by  our 
farmers,  is  in  not  allowing  the  compost  heap  a 
sufficient  time  to  become  thoroughly  decomposed, 
before  applying  it.  The  time  required  to  effect 
complete  decomposition  is  from  one  to  two  years  ; 
and  should  it  be  used  before  decomposition  is 
completely  accomplished,  the  farmer  does  not 
get  that  return  for  his  labor  in  collecting,  mix- 
ing, and   turning  over,  that  he  w^ould  realize  if 


BAD   COMPOSTING.  191 

he  waited  until  the  mass  is  in  the  most  efficient 
condition. 

The  practice  of  mixing  up  a  mass  of  hetero- 
geneous materials,  and  letting  it  stand  three, 
four,  or  six  months,  and  then  applying  it  to  the 
soil,  will  not  pay  for  the  labor  and  expense; 
rather  than  compost  in  that  manner,  it  would  be 
better  to  apply  the  materials  at  once  to  the  soil. 
This  quick  method  of  composting — necessarily 
followed  by  unsatisfactory  results — has  brought 
composting  into  discredit  and  disuse  by  many 
farmers,  who  might  derive  great  benefit  if  they 
complied  with  the  conditions  necessary  to  suc- 
cess. A  still  more  reprehensible  practice  than 
that  above  stated,  is  that  of  using  quicklime  in 
compost  heaps ;  it  should  never  be  done.  It  has 
the  effect  to  dissipate  the  nitrogen  and  am- 
monia ;  besides,  it  absorbs  the  carbonic  acid, 
and  leaves  the  organic  substances  in  their  ori- 
ginal insoluble  condition. 

It  is  very  necessary  that  the  farmer  should 
know  the  value  of  the  compost,  and  the  amount 
that  should  be  applied  to  an  acre.  *  In  order  to 
know  this,  he  should  keep  an  account  of  the 
loads  of  barn-yard  manure  and  other  substances 
used ;  and  then,  the  Tables  we  have  given  in 
this  book  will  enable  him  to  approximate  very 
nearly  to  the  value  of  the  heap,  and  the  amount 
that  should  be  applied  to  an  acre  to  produce  a 
given  crop. 


CHAPTER    VII. 

GENERAL      REMARKS ANALYSES     OF     COMMERCIAL 

FERTILIZERS,  WITH   COMMENTS  AND   CRITICISMS 

METHODS  OF  ANALYSIS CONCLUSION. 

The  general  reader,  and  particularly  far- 
mers, should  carefully  note  what  is  contained 
in  this  chapter,  as  it  vitally  affects  their  interests. 
It  will  show  how  unprincipled  men,  from  selfish 
motives,  and  by  dishonest  practices,  are  stripping 
them  of  the  hard-earned  fruits  of  honest  in- 
dustry ;  and  will  give  a  limited  idea  of  the 
extent  of  the  frauds  that  have  been  unblushingly 
practised  for  years,  unchecked  and  almost  un- 
heeded. We  have  already  indicated  the  cure 
for  these  wrongs;  and  now,  when  we  picture 
them  in  their  true  colors,  thinking  men,  we 
doubt  not,  will  at  once  apply  the  remedy  by 
preparing  their  own  fertilizers,  and  leaving 
those  of  dishonest  manufacturers  alone. 

We  have  fully  proved  the  justice  of  the  values 
assigned  to  the  fertilizing  constituents  of  com- 
mercial manures  by  us,  and  have  also  shown 
that  the  best  authorities  in  this  and  other  coun- 
192 


GENERAL   REMARKS.  193 

tries  have  set  their  valuations  lower  than  we 
have  done. 

It  is  possible  that  manufacturers  may  object 
to  our  allowing  them  nothing  for  the  insoluble 
portion  of  the  phosphoric  acid  contained  in  their 
so-called  superphosphates.  But  we  have  shown 
by  the  best  authorities,  that  phosphoric  acid  as 
contained  in  mineral  phosphate  (the  chief  in- 
gredient in  their  phosphates),  or  even  in  bones, 
is  not  available  as  plant  food  for  many  years, — 
ten,  twenty  or  more, — and  the  statements  of  the 
manufacturers  themselves  on  this  subject  show 
that  they  are  right  in  theory,  if  not  in  practice. 
The  most  limited  knowledge  of  finance  will  show 
that  no  value  should  be  assigned  to  it,  because 
if  it  takes  only  10  years  to  make  it  available  as 
plant  food,  the  interest  would  amount  to  as 
much  as  the  purchase  money;  and  if  it  takes 
15  years  to  make  it  available,  the  interest  with 
the  purchase  money  amounts  to  more  than  the 
value  of  phosphoric  acid  in  soluble  form.  Be- 
sides, no  farmer  would  knowingly  purchase  a 
fertilizer  that  requires  10  to  20  years  to  give 
him  a  return  for  his  money.  The  loss  by  the 
use  of  such  a  manure  is  not  confined  to  the  loss 
of  the  interest  on  the  purchase  money,  but,  in 
addition,  the  farmer  loses  his  time  and  the 
profitable  use  of  his  land,  which  of  itself  involves 
many  other  losses.     Independent  of  all  this,  such 


194  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

inert  substance  should  manifestly  have  no  place 
in  a  high-priced  fertilizer,  the  very  name  of 
which  implies  that  it  does  not  contain  it. 

The  products  of  the  farm  are  closely  scrutin- 
ized, and  the  quality  graded,  when  they  are 
brought  to  the  market,  and  from  this  cause  many 
a  farmer  has  not  realized  from  his  produce  as 
much  as  he  anticipated.  No  farmer  is  allowed 
to  sell  the  chaff  with  the  wheat,  nor  portions  of 
the  cob  with  the  corn.  Butter  must  be  properly 
made,  as  the  quality  fixes  the  price ;  and  should 
there  be  an  extra  amount  of  salt  used,  dishonest 
motives  are  at  once  attributed  to  the  farmer,  as 
intending  to  make  up  weight;  and  should  the 
same  butter  be  found  a  little  deficient  in  weight, 
it  is  at  once  confiscated.  "  It  is  a  bad  rule  that 
wont  work  both  ways."  Hence,  should  the  far- 
mer want  crude  mineral  phosphate,  it  should  be 
sold  to  him  as  siicJi^  at  a  cost  of  $12  to  $20  a 
ton,  and  not  be  palmed  ujDon  him  under  the 
false  name  of  superphosphate  at  $40  to  $60  per 
ton.  We  have  hitherto  dealt  in  generalities. 
Having  spoken  of  frauds  practised,  in  the  mass, 
we  shall  now  treat  them  in  detail,  and  we 
hope  the  reader  will  examine  the  analyses,  and 
carefully  compare  them  with  the  statements 
of  these  manufacturers.  If  this  be  done,  our  re- 
marks about  their  frauds  will  add  no  additional 
force  to  the  damning  testimony  which  they 
themselves  have  furnished. 


ANALYSES. 


195 


ANALYSES    OF    WATSON   &   OLAKK'S    SUPER. 
PHOSPHATE. 

Percentage,  or  amount  contained  in  100. 


Water(expelled  at  "I 
2120  Fall.)  J 

Nitrogen. 

Nitrogen  in  or-  ] 
ganic  matter.     J 

Potash. 

Phosphoric  Acid^ 
(anhydrous),  I 
soluble  in  water  { 
atCOOto  70OF.  J 

Insoluble  Phos- 
phoric Acid(an- 
hydrous.) 


1st 
Sample. 

2d 
Sample. 

12-67 

12-89 

0-17 

0-19 

057 

0-62 

trace 

trace 

5-61 

5-56 

7-22 

7-18 

Mean. 


12-78 
0-18==  0-22 
0-60 
trace 


of   Actual 
Ammonia. 


C  of   Super- 
5-59=  9-21  -<  phosphate 
(^  of  Lime. 

r  of    Bone 
7-20=15-72  -]  Phosphate 
(  of  Lime. 


From  the  mean  of  the  above  analyses,  we  de- 
duce the  following  amounts  contained  in  a  ton, 
or  2000  lbs. 5  together  with  the  value  of  a  ton  to 
the  farmer : 

255-60  lbs.  Water. @  $0.00  per  lb.  $0.00 

4-40    *'     Actual  Ammonia @  0.25     "  1.10 

12-00"     Nitrogen  in  organic  mat.     @  0.15     "  1.80 

111-80  lbs.  Soluble  Phos.  Acid @  0.12^  "  13.97 

144-00  "     Insoluble     "         "      ....   (^  0.00     "•  0.00 


Total  value  as  Superphosphate $16.87 

Yalue  of  bags  (say) 2.00 


Total  value  to  farmer $18.87 

The  above  phosphate  is  sold  at  $45  per  ton, 
involving  a  loss  of  $26.13,  or  138  per  cent.,  to  the 
farmer  on  ever}^  ton  he  purchases.  He  pays  for 
it  very  nearly  2  J  times  what  it  is  worth. 


196  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

WATSON  &  CLARK'S  SUPERPHOSPHATE. 

The  above  fertilizer,  from  which  the  samples 
for  analyses  were  selected,  was  purchased  from 
the  manufacturers  at  their  office  in  Philadelphia. 
It  is  put  up  in  200  lb.  bags  ;  the  one  purchased 
weighed  201 J  lbs.  Its  mechanical  condition  was 
good;  the  mineral  phosphate  from  which  it 
was  manufactured  had  been  finely  ground,  and 
there  were  no  hard  lumps  to  interfere  with  its. 
application  by  drilling.  The  circular  of  these 
manufacturers  is  a  model  of  its  kind.  They 
frankly  state  the  kind  of  material  used,  and  the 
source  from  which  it  is  procured.  They  give  no 
analyses  of  their  article,  which  they  should  do, 
but  say  they  manufacture  a  superphosphate  of 
lime — 

"Under  the  supervision  of  Prof.  James  C.  Booth  of  the 
U.  S.  Mint,  and  every  parcel  made  is  analyzed  by  him  or  his 
partner,  Dr.  Garrett,  in  order  to  ascertain  if  it  comes  up  to 
the  required  standard." 

They  do  not  inform  us  what  this  standard  is, 
but  as  they  profess  to  manufacture  a  super- 
phosphate^ the  required  standard  should  be  that. 
The  analysis  shows  by  the  Insoluble  Phosphoric 
Acid  how  far  they  fail.  But  if  we  take  the 
price  at  which  it  is  sold  into  account,  it  is  one 
of  the  cheapest  fertilizers  in  the  market;  i.  6., 
the  farmer  gets  more  of  what  he  needs  for  his 
money  than  in  many  other  fertilizers  more 
strongly  recommended. 


ANALYSES. 


197 


ANALYSES  OF  ERODES'  SUPERPHOSPHATE. 

Percentage,  or  amount  contained  in  100. 

Ist 
Sample 

7-67 

2nd 
Sample. 

7-79 

Mean. 

Water  (expelled  at^ 
212°  Fahrenheit).) 

7-73 

Nitrogen 

trace 
trace 

trace 
trace 

trace 
trace 

Nitrogen  in  organic  | 
matter.                    j 

Potash,    soluble   in  | 
acidulated  water,  j 

trace 

trace 

trace 

•Phosphoric    A  c  i  d  "^ 
(anhydrous),  sol-  [ 
uble   in  water  at 
60°  to  70O  F. 

3-63 

3-40 

r  S  u  p  e  r  phos- 
3-52=:5-80  \      phate     of 
(^     Lime. 

Insoluble  Phospho-  \ 

C  Bone  Phos- 

ric   Acid    (anhy-  v 

15-16 

15-34 

15-25=33-29  J      phate    of 

drous.)                    3 

II                        (_     Lime. 

From  the  mean  of  the  above  analyses^  we  de- 
duce the  following  amounts  contained  in  a  ton, 
or  2000  Ibs.j  together  with  the  value  of  a  ton  to 
the  farmer : 

154-60  lbs.  Water @  $0.00  per  lb.  $0.00 

Trace  Nitrogen @    0.15       **        0.00 

70-40  lbs.  Soluble  Phos.  Acid @     0.12^     "        8.80 

305-00    *'     Insoluble    ''        "  Ccb    0.00       "        0.00 


Total  value,  as  Superphosphate $8.80 

Yalue  of  bags  (say) 2.00 


Total  value  to  farmer $10.80 

The  above  phosphate  is  sold  at  $50  per  ton, 
involving  a  loss  of  $39.20,  or  363  per  cent,  to 
the  farmer  on  every  ton  he  purchases ;  or,  in 
other  words,  he  pays  for  it  4|  times  as  much  as 
it  is  worth. 


198  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

EHODES'  SUPERPHOSPHATE. 

The  above  fertilizer,  from  which  samples  for 
analyses  were  selected,  was  purchased  from 
Messrs.  Yarnall  &  Trimble,  Philadelphia.  It  is 
put  up  in  bags,  marked  200  lbs;  the  one  pur- 
chased weighed  201  lbs.  The  mechanical  con- 
dition of  the  fertilizer  was  good.  The  manu- 
facturer's circular  gives  the  following  analyses, 
said  to  be  furnished  by  Prof  Johnson  in  1859. 

RHODES'  SUPERPHOSPHATE  OP  LIME. 

Water  (expelled  at  2120) 22-25  22*34 

Matter  volatile  at  red  heat 20-17  20*00 

Sand  and  insoluble  matters 1*82  2*57 

Lime 14-90  15-85 

Phosphoric  Acid,  soluble  in  water 13*78  13*85 

"       insoluble  "         -64  '67 

The  above  analyses  of  Prof  Johnson  widely 
differ  from  our  analyses  of  Rhodes  Superphos- 
phate. We  do  not  question  the  correctness  of 
the  analyses  given  by  Prof  Johnson  in  1859, 
but  there  is  evidently  a  marked  falling  off  in  the 
quality  since  that  time ;  and  to  publish  these 
analyses  with  his  or  any  other  eulogistic  state- 
ment, at  the  present  time,  is  a  great  injus- 
tice to  the  Professor,  and  shows  an  evident 
disposition  on  the  part  of  the  manufacturer 
or  agents  to  deceive  and  defraud  their  customers. 
As  the  fertilizer  is  now  manufactured,  in  con- 
nection with  the  price  demanded  for  it,  we 
cannot  characterize  it  as  being  anything  short  of 
a  fraud  and  a  cheat-. 


ANALYSES. 


199 


ANALYSES  OF  BERGER  &  BUI^Z'S  EXCELSIOR 

SUPERPHOSPHATE  OP  LLME. 

Percentage,  or  amount  contained  in  100. 

Mean. 


:} 


Water  (expelled  at 
2120Fahrenheit) 

Nitrogen. 

Nitrogen  in  organic  " 
matter. 

Potash    soluble    in " 
acidulated  water. 

Phosphoric  Acid 
(anhydrous)j  sol- 
uble in  water  at 
60O  to  70O  F. 

Insoluble    Phos-"^ 
phoric  Acid  (an- 
hydrous). 


1st 
Sample. 

9-15 

2n(i 
Sample. 

9-08 

trace 

trace 

1-42 

1-46 

trace 

trace 

5-23 

5-18 

8-19 

8-36 

9-12 

trace==  Actual  Ammonia 

1-44 

trace 

I  Superphos- 
phate of 
Lime. 

(BonePhos- 
phate  of 
Lime. 


From  the  mean  of  the  above  analyses,  we 
deduce  the  following  amounts,  contained  in  a 
ton,  or  2000  lbs.,  together  with  the  value  of  a 
ton  to  the  farmer. 


182-40  lbs.  Water @  $0.00  per  lb. 

$  0.00 

28  80  *'     Nitrogen  in  organic  matter  @     0.15     " 

4.32 

104-20  "     Soluble  Phosphoric  Acid..  @     0.12^  " 

13.03 

165-60  "     Insoluble  Phosphoric  Acid.  @     0.00     '' 

0.00 

Total  value  as  fertilizer $17.35 

Yalue  of  bags  (say) 2.00 


Total  value  to  farmer $19.35 

The  above  phosphate  is  sold  at  $50  per  ton, 
involving  a  loss  of  $30.65,  or  nearly  159  per 
cent,  to  the  farmer,  on  every  ton  he  purchases ; 
or,  in  other  words,  he  pays  nearly  2|  times  as 
much  for  it  as  it  is  worth. 


200  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

BERGER  &  BUTZ'S   EXCELSIOR  SUPER 
PHOSPHATE  or  LIME. 

The  above  fertilizer,  from  which  samples  for 
analyses  were  selected,  was  purchased  at  the 
manufacturer/  office,  Philadelphia.  It  is  put  up 
in  bags  marked  200  lbs. ;  the  bag  purchased 
weighed  201  lbs.  Its  mechanical  condition  was 
bad,  the  mineral  phosphate  from  which  it  is 
made  had  seemingly  been  ground  fine,  but  the 
finished  product  had  dried  in  hard  lumps  in  the 
bag,  which  would  be  a  great  inconvenience  to 
the  farmer  if  he  wished  to  apply  it  with  a  drill. 
It  is  strange  that  these  manufacturers  do  not  see 
the  importance  of  reducing  their  fertilizers  to  a 
powder,  before  sending  them  to  the  farmer,  who 
naturally  expects  it  fully  prepared  to  apply  to 
tlie  soil,  either  by  drilling  or  by  hand.  When 
the  farmer  has  to  reduce  these  lumps  to  a  pow- 
der, he  is  doing  the  work  of  the  manufacturers 
for  Avhich  he  pays,  and  which  could  be  done  by 
them  at  far  less  cost. 

Messrs.  Berger  &  Butz  issue  a  very  modest 
circular.  They  give  no  analysis  of  their  fertilizer, 
which  every  manufacturer  should  do,  as  it  alone 
is  the  only  guarantee  of  its  quality.  The  amount 
of  soluble  phosphoric  acid  and  nitrogen  it  con- 
tains, is  far  more  than  in  some  other  fertilizers 
that  are  more  strongly  recommended. 


ANALYSES. 


20] 


ANALYSES  OF  ''THE  MAGNUM  BONUM  SOLUBLE 
PHOSPHATE,"  DUGDALE  &  GIRVIN  SOLE  PRO- 
PRIETORS, BALTIMORE,  MD. 

Percentage,  or  amount  contained  in  100. 


Mean. 


Water  (expelled  at  1 
2120  Fahrenheit),  j 


Nitrogen 

Nitrogen  in  organic  1 
matter.  j 

Potash,   soluble   in  | 
acidulated  water.  J 

Phosphoric  Acid 
(anhydrous),  sol- 
uble in  water  at 
60O  to  70O  F.         J 

Insoluble  Phospho- 
ric Acid  (anhy- 
drous). 


1st 

2nd 

Sample. 

Sample. 

12-57 

12-48 

0-15 

0-17 

0-72 

0-73 

0-84 

0-82 

4-45 

4-48 

6-95 

6-62 

12-53 


0-16=0-20 


(  Actual    Am- 


0-73 

683 

r  S  u  p  e  rphos- 
4-47=7-37  -I      phate     of 
(^     Lime. 

C  Bone  Phos- 
6-79=14-82-5      phate   of 
(^     Lime. 


From  the  mean  of  the  above  analyses,  we  de- 
duce the  following  amounts  contained  in  a  ton, 
or  2000  lbs.,  together  with  the  value  of  a  ton  to 
the  farmer  : 

250-60  lbs.  Water @ 

4-00    "     Actual  Ammonia @ 

14-60    "     Nitrogen  in  organic  matter.  @ 

16-60    ''     Potash @ 

89-40    ''     Soluble  Phosphoric  Acid  . .  @ 

135-80    "    Insoluble        "  ''     . .  @ 


$0.00  per  lb.  $0.00 
0.25 
0.15 
0.08 
0.12i 
0.00 


1.00 
2.19 
1.33 
IL17 
0.00 


Total  value  as  fertilizer $15. 69 

Value  of  bags  (say) 2.00 

Total  value  to  farmer $17.69 

The  above  named  fertilizer  is  sold  at  $52  per 


202  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

ton,  involving  a  loss  to  the  farmer  of  $34.31,  or 
194  per  cent,  on  every  ton  he  purchases,  or,  in 
other  words,  he  pays  for  it  very  nearly  3  times 
as  much  as  it  is  worth. 

"THE    MAGNUM   BONUM  SOLUBLE 
PHOSPHATE." 

The  above  fertilizer,  from  which  samples  for 
analyses  were  selected,  was  purchased  at  the 
office  of  Messrs.  Dugdale  &  Girvin,  Baltimore, 
Md.  It  is  put  up  in  bags,  marked  167  lbs. ;  the 
bag  purchased  weighed  170  lbs.  Its  mechanical 
condition  was  very  bad,  being  composed  almost 
entirely  of  coarse,  hard  lumps,  that,  were  pul- 
verized with  considerable  difficulty,  and  we 
should  think  it  would  cause  considerable  trouble 
to  the  farmer  to  prepare  it  for  drilling.  Messrs. 
Dugdale  &  Girvin  are  comparatively  modest  in 
recommending  this  fertilizer.     They  furnish  an 

analvsis  as  follows  : 

1/ 

ANALYSIS. 
Made  hy  Prof.  W.  LeRoy  Broun,  formerly  of  Va. 

Soluble  Bone  Phosphate 13*79 

Bone  Phosphate,  soluble  in  the  soil 27-94 

Ammonia 382 

Potash 4-24 

Soda  and  Magnesia 2*79 

This  article  contains  the  most  valuable  constituents  in  large 
proportions,  and  I  have  no  doubt  will  prove  a  very  valuable 
Fertilizer.  W.  LeRoy  Broun. 

December  3c?,  1870. 


ANALYSES.  203 

We  would  characterize  the  above  as  a  garbled 
analysis,  calculated  to  deceive  the  purchaser. 
There  is  no  such  compound  as  "  Soluble  Bone 
Phosphate  ;"  the  term  is  absolutely  hypothe- 
tical. There  is  Bone  Phosphate  of  Lime,  13*79 
parts  of  which  contain  6*32  parts  of  Phospho- 
ric Acid.  But  perhaps  6*32  per  cent,  might 
not  so  favorably  impress  the  buyer  as  13*79 
would ;  and  '^  Bone  Phosphate/'  with  the  prefix 
"  Soluble/'  is  used  by  the  dealer  to  favorably  im-. 
press  the  farmer  (unacquainted  as  he  generally 
is  with  scientific  terms)  that  he  is  getting  more 
than  twice  the  value  he  actually  receives. 

Our  analyses  and  that  of  Prof  W.  LeEoy 
Broun  differ  widely.  We  do  not  say  his  is  not 
conscientiously  made,  because  there  is  a  possi- 
bility, not  to  say  probability,  that  manufacturers 
and  dealers  submit  a  sample  of  one  quality  to 
the  chemist  for  analysis^  and  palm  off  a  greatly 
inferior  quality  upon  purchasers.  Certain  it  is, 
that  the  bag  we  bought  shows  no  such  result  as 
that  given  by  Prof  W.  LeEoy  Broun. 

The  Professor's  analysis  gives  27*94  per  cent, 
of  "  Bone  Phosphate,  soluble  in  the  soil/'  he  does 
not  say  in  how  long,  whether  it  requires  ten, 
twenty,  or  thirty  years.  These  indefinite  state- 
ments are  calculated  to  deceive  any  one  who  is 
not  fully  informed  on  the  subject,  and  the  motives 
for  giving  them  cannot  be  too  strongly  repre- 
hended. 

14 


204  AMERICAN    MANURES. 

This  fertilizer  is  represented  to  be  composed 
of  Dissolved  Bones,  Ammonia  and  Potash ;  and 
"  entirely  free  from  any  adulterative  matter." 
The  analyses  show  that  it  contains  a  great  deal 
of  something  that  is  not  accounted  for.  The 
large  percentage  of  water  might  seem  unneces- 
sary to  the  uninitiated.  The  reader  will  notice 
that  there  is  for  more  of  this  substance  than 
Superphosphate  of  Lime,  and  if  he  compares  the 
price  of  this  fertilizer  with  the  value,  he  will 
naturally  come  to  the  conclusion  that  it  is  the 
"  Magnum  Bonum "  {the  great  good)  to  the 
manufacturers  and  dealers,  and  the  "  Magnum 
Malum  "  {the  great  evil)  to  the  farmer. 

Messrs.  Dugdale  &  Girvin  say  that  this  "  Mag- 
num Bonum  is  the  great  Generator  and  nour- 
isher  of  Corn,  Oats,  Grass,  Wheat,  Tobacco,  and 
other  crops  and  plants."  This  must  be  a  most  won- 
derful property  of  this  fertilizer,  the  inference 
being  that  the  farmer  need  not  use  any  seed  to  pro- 
duce the  above  crops — the  manure  itself  being  a 
generator. 

There  might,  however,  be  a  great  disadvan- 
tage connected  with  its  use  ;  the  farmer  naturally 
would  have  a  desire  to  raise  a  specified  crop, 
the  generator  might  beget  corn  when  he  wanted 
wheat,  or  oats  when  he  wanted  tobacco,  or  might 
produce  them  all  heterogeneously.  We  make 
these  suggestions  for  the  benefit  of  Messrs.  Dug- 


ANALYSES.  205 

dale  &  Girvin,  so  that  in  future  they  may  be 
more  careful  or  more  specific  in  giving  the  quali- 
ties of  this  wonderful  manure. 

"  Consistency  is  a  jewel ;"  and  to  show  that 
the  proprietors  of  this  wonderful  fertilizer  are 
slightly  lacking  in  this  virtue,  we  give  the  fol- 
lowing analysis  of  the  "  Magnum  Bonum/'  as 
given  in  Messrs.  Dugdale  &  Girvin's  advertise- 
ment in  the  "Journal  of  the  Farm/'  which  an- 
alysis the  reader  is  requested  to  compare  with 
the  analysis  furnished  by  Prof  W.  LeRoy 
Broun,  formerly  of  Va. 

Soluble  Bone  Phosphate  of  Lhne 15*33 

Bone  .Phosphate  of  Lime 19*64 

Ammonia  (equal  to  12  per  cent,  of  Sulphate)... .  3*16 
Potash 4-62 

The  laws  of  the  State  of  Maryland  require  an 
analysis  of  every  fertilizer  to  be  plainly  marked 
on  each  package.  The  bag  of  "  Magnum  Bonum" 
purchased  by  us  had  some  blurred  and  half 
obliterated  marks^  which  we  charitably  supposed 
were  intended  for  an  analysis,  but  we  failed  to 
decipher  it  after  expending  considerable  time 
endeavoring  to  do  so ;  this  showing  conclusively 
that  the  intention  was  to  conform  with  the  letter 
and  not  the  spirit  of  the  law  of  Maryland.  We 
would  suggest  to  Messrs.  Dugdale  &  Girvin  the 
propriety  of  using  larger  letters  and  figures,  thus 
saving  considerable  trouble  to  their  customers, 
as  well  as  saving  their  own  credit. 


206 


AMERICAN   MANURES. 


ANALYSES  OF  AVHANN'S  RAW  BONE  SUPER- 

PHOSPHATE. 

Percentage,  or  amount  contained  in  100. 


Water  (expelled  at 
2120  Fahrenheit). 

Nitrogen. 

Nitrogen  in  organic  1 
matter.  j 

Potash,  soluble  in  ] 
acidulated  water.   J 

Phosphoric  Acid  ^ 
(anhydrous),  so-  I 
luble  in  water  at  ( 
60O  to  70O  F.         J 

Insoluble  Phos- 
phoric Acid  (an- 
hydrous). 


l8t 

Sample. 

2d 
Sample. 

9-92 

10-06 

0-37 

0-42 

0-91 

0-98 

0-21 

0-19 

3-47 

3-25 

14-30 

14-46 

Mean. 


9-99 

0-40-0-49|^^^"^^^"^- 
1     monia. 

0-94 
0-20 

r  Superphos- 
3-36  =  5-54  \      phate  of 
(.     Lime. 

C  BonePhos- 
14-38:==31-39-<      phate  of 
(^      Lime. 


From  the  mean  of  the  above  analyses,  we  deduce 
the  following  amounts  contained  in  a  ton,  or  2000 
lbs.,  together  with  the  value  of  a  ton  to  the  farmer : 

199-80  lbs.  Water @  $0.00  per  lb.  $0.00 

9-80    "    Actual  Ammonia @     0.25      "  2.45 

18-80    "     Nitrogen  in  organic  matter.  @     0.15      "  2.82 

4-00    "     Potash @     0.08      "  0.32 

67-20    "     Soluble  Phos.  Acid @     0.12^    "  8.40 

287-60    "     Insoluble  *'          *'   @     0.00       "  0-00 

Total  value  as  Superphosphate $13.99 

Yalue  of  bags  (say) 2.00 

Total  value  to  farmer $15.99 

The  above  Phosphate  is  sold  at  $52  per  ton, 
involving  a  loss  of  $36.01,  or  225  per  cent.,  to 
the  farmer  on  every  ton  he  purchases ;  or,  in 
other  words,  he  pays  3i  times  what  it  is  worth. 


ANALYSES.  207 

WHANN'S  RAW  BONE  SUPERPHOS- 
PHATE. 

Tlie  above  fertilizer,  from  which  samples  for 
analyses  were  selected,  was  purchased  from  the 
manufacturers'  agents,  Messrs.  Cruft  and  Young, 
Philadelphia.  It  is  put  up  in  200  lb.  bags  ;  the 
one  purchased  weighed  203  lbs.  The  mechanical 
condition  of  the  fertilizer  was  only  middling ;  it 
had  not  that  homogeneous  appearance  that  a  first- 
class  fertilizer  should  present.  This  condition 
may  be  caused  by  a  portion  of  the  Charleston 
Guano,  or  other  mineral  phosphate,  of  which  it 
is  largely  composed,  being  treated  with  sulphuric 
acid,  and  then  mixed  with  another  portion  of 
phosphate  in  its  crude  state ;  and  the  superphos- 
phate, taken  as  a  whole,  did  not  present  the  ap- 
pearance of  being  prepared  from  substances  of 
"animal  oriylnr  For  the  benefit  of  our  readers 
we  have  collated  the  following  extracts  from 
the  circulars  of  the  manufacturers  of  this  super- 
phosphate. 

No.  1.  *'  Plants  during-  their  germination  and  development 
require  a  constant  supply  of  food,  and  it  is  necessary  that  tliis 
nourishment  be  furnished  in  such  a  form  as  to  be  at  once  as- 
similable, and  capable  of  being  immediately  useful  in  sustaining 
their  growth." 

No.  2.  ''  The  experience  of  the  most  capable  agriculturists 
throughout  the  civilized  world  points  to  the  use  of  concentrated 
manures ;  those  which  afford  all  the  elements  of  plant  food  in  a 
readily  soluble  form." 

No.  3.  "The  phosphate  of  lime,  as  it  exists  in  bones,  is  in- 


208  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

soluble  in  water,  although  when  placed  in  the  soil  it  becomes 
soluble  to  a  very  limited  extent." 

No.  4.  ''  Quick  manures  increase  the  business  capital  of  the 
farmer.'' 

No.  5.  *'  Unlike  Peruvian  Guano,  it  (Whann's  Raw  Bone 
Superphosphate)  does  not  exhaust  the  soil,  but,  on  the  con- 
trary, it  insures  a  supply  of  valuable  nutriment  lasting  through 
several  seasons." 

No.  6.  *'  The  ingredients  which  enter  into  the  composition 
of  Whann's  Raw  Bone  Superphosphate  (raw  bones,  guano, 
sulphuric  acid,  potash  and  soda),  are  all  subjected  to  thorough 
chemical  analysis  before  they  are  purchased.  No  inert  sub- 
stances are  used.  The  phosphate  is  warranted  free  from 
adulteration." 

No.  7.  "  With  the  exception  of  the  sulphuric  acid,  potash, 
and  soda,  every  ingredient  entering  into  its  composition  is  of 
animal  origin." 

No.  8.  "•  Our  works  are  under  the  daily  control  and  super- 
vision of  an  experienced  chemist,  and  are  furnished  with  a 
completely  appointed  analytical  laboratory,  where  analyses  are 
made  of  every  ingredient  used  in  the  phosphate." 

No.  9.  "Dollar  for  dollar,  Whann's  Raw  Bone  Phosphate 
will  go  nearly  twice  as  far  as  Peruvian  the  first  year." 

No.  10.  "Instead  of  resorting  to  indiscriminate  pufiBng  for 
the  purpose  of  forcing  sales,  the  manufacturers  have  contented 
themselves  with  allowing  it  to  speak  for  itself." 

The  reader  is  aware  that  the  qualifying  name 
of  this  fertilizer  is  "  Raw  Bone."  We  are  anxious 
to  know  how  much  of  this  substance  is  used  by 
the  manufacturers.  On  a  careful  examination 
we  found  what  might  be  styled  a  sprinkling  of 
hone^  but  not  sufficient  for  the  most  limited 
excuse  for  giving  it  the  name  of  "  Raw  Bone 
Phosphate."     From  the  amount  of  soluble  phos- 


ANALYSES.  209 

phoric  acid  present  in  a  ton,  the  amount  of  sul- 
phuric acid  used  must  be  very  small. 

Mr.  Whann  says,  that  guano  is  used,  but  he 
does  not  state  the  kind  or  kinds,  or  the  propor- 
tions. We  hazard  the  assertion  that  there  is  a 
large  amount  of  Charleston,  with  a  very  small 
amount  of  Peruvian. 

He  also  notifies  us  that  potash  and  soda  are 
used.  The  reader  will  notice  by  the  analyses, 
that  a  ton  of  his  superphosphate  contains  4  lbs. 
of  potash,  worth  32  cents.  The  benefits  result- 
ing from  such  an  amount  cannot  be  very  marked, 
as  it  requires  40  lbs.  of  potash  for  25  bushels  of 
w^heat  with  the  straw.  No  adulteration  is  said 
to  be  practised  in  preparing  this  superphosphate, 
but  Mr.  Whann  admits  to  using  soda.  We  pre- 
sume he  means  salt  cake  or  sulphate  of  soda, 
usually  sold  for  $10  per  ton,  or  he  may  apply 
salt  or  chloride  of  sodium.  In  either  case,  when 
Mr.  Whann  can  prove  the  necessity  of  the  use 
of  soda  in  any^  form  in  a  superphosphate,  or  that 
a  large  amount  of  crude  mineral  phosphate,  which 
when  ground  could  not  possibly  cost  him  over 
$17  per  ton,  should  be  found  in  a  high-priced 
fertilizer  represented  to  be  made  from  '"  Raw 
Bone,"  and  sells  for  $52  per  ton,  we  will  admit 
that  there  has  been  no  adulteration  practised ; 
and  when  he  can  satiefactorily  account  for  the 
presence  of  267*60  lbs.  of  insoluble  phosphoric 


210  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

acid  in  a  ton  of  his  "  Superphosphate,"  and  prove 
that  this  large  amount  is  of  immediate  benefit  to 
the  farmer  or  to  his  crops,  we  will  give  Whann's 
Raw  Bone  Superphosphate  all  the  merit 
chiimed  for  it ;  until  then  we  shall  consider  our- 
selves as  cheated  in  our  purchase  of  this  fertilizer, 
and  claim  the  right  of  expressing  our  opinion 
freely. 

Our  farmers  should  take  a  lesson  from  Mr. 
Whann,  and  use  a  little  of  his  caution  in  making 
their  purchases,  by  assuring  themselves  of  the 
quality  of  what  they  buy.  As  Mr.  Whann  says 
he  keeps  a  chemist,  we  think  it  is  due  to  him- 
self, and  to  the  public,  that  he  should  publish  a 
full  analysis  of  his  "  Superphosphate." 

Were  the  manufacturers  of  fertilizers  who  re- 
sort to  indiscriminate  puffing  to  push  forward 
their  products,  to  inform  the  farmer  as  to  their 
quality  in  a  frank  manner,  by  analysis  we  mean, 
a  different  state  of  affairs  would  now  exist.  And 
if  the  parties  professing  to  make  a  Superphos- 
phate from  Raw  Bones,  had  fully  informed  the 
farmer  of  the  value  of  Mineral  Phosphates,  and 
candidly  admitted  to  using  the  latter  as  a  raw 
material,  they  would  at  the  present  time  have 
little  occasion  to  blush,  perhaps,  over  their  petty 
deceits  and  subterfuaes. 


ANALYSES. 


211 


ANALYSES  OF  SOLUBLE  PACIFIC  GUANO. 

Percentage,  oi'  amount  contained  in  100. 


Water,  (expelled  at ") 
2120  Fahrenheit).  J 

Nitrogen. 

Nitrogen  in  organic  ") 
matter.  j 

Potash,    soluble   in  | 
acidulated  water.  J 

Phosphoric       Acid  ^ 
(anhj^drous),     so- 
luble in  water  at 
60O  to  loo  Y. 

Insoluble  Phos- 
phoric Acid  (an- 
hydrous). 


1st 
Sample. 

2d 
Sample. 

14-20 

14-26 

0-83 

0-87 

1-58 

1-44 

0-46 

0-49 

3-87 

3-74 

11-03 

11-23 

14-23 


0-85  =  1-03  I 


ActualAm- 
monia. 


1-51 


0-48 


f  Superphos- 
3-81  =  6-28  J      phate  of 
I     Lime. 

(  BonePhos- 
11-13^24-30  \      pliate  of 
[     Lime. 


From  the  mean  of  the  above  analyses^  we  deduce 
the  following  amounts  contained  m  a  ton,  or  2000 
lbs.,  together  with  the  value  of  a  ton  to  the  farmer : 

284-60  lbs.  Water @  $0.00  per  lb.  $0.00 

20-60    "  Actual  Ammonia @    0.25      '*  5.15 

30-20    "  Nitrogen  in  organic  mat.  @    0.15      *'  4.53 

9-60    "  Potash @    0.08      "  0.77 

76-20    *'  Soluble  Phos.  Acid @    0.12J    '*  9.53 

222-60    *'  Insoluble    ''         '' @    0.00      "  0.00 

Total  value  as  a  fertilizer $19.98 

Value  of  bags  (say) 2.00 

Total  value  to  farmer $21.98 

The  above  fertilizer  is  sold  at  $50  per  ton,  in- 
volving a  loss  of  $28.02,  or  128  per  cent,  to  the 
farmer  on  every  ton  he  purchases ;  or,  in  other 
words,  he  pays  more  than  2i  times  as  much  as 
it  is  worth. 


212  AMERICAN    MANURES. 

SOLUBLE  PACIFIC  GUANO. 

The  above  fertilizer,  from  which  samples  for 
analyses  were  selected,  was  purchased  at  the 
office  of  the  agent  of  the  manufacturers,  Phila- 
delphia. It  is  put  up  in  bags  marked  200  lbs. ; 
the  one  purchased  weighed  195  lbs.,  being  5  lbs. 
deficient  Aveight  on  the  bag,  or  50  lbs.  on  the 
ton.  Farmers  in  purchasing  fertilizers  should 
pay  particular  attention  to  this  matter ;  as  this 
fertilizer  is  sold  at  2  J  cents  per  lb.,  this  de- 
ficiency in  weight  is  a  direct  loss  of  $1.25.  We 
have  estimated  the  value  of  a  ton  of  2000  lbs. ; 
this  shows  a  greater  value  than  the  deficient 
weight  could  demand.  As  there  is  a  deficiency 
of  2i  per  cent,  in  the  weight,  to  be  just,  we 
should  deduct  the  same  from  the  value.  The 
mechanical  condition  of  the  fertilizer  was  good 
as  regards  fineness,  and  can  be  easily  applied 
with  a  drill.  It  contains  a  large  percentage  of 
water,  which  is  a  very  objectionable  feature; 
every  ton  contains  284*60  lbs.,  which  the  farmer 
pays  2}  cents  a  pound  for,  amounting  to  $7.11 ; 
to  which  if  we  add  the  $1.25  paid  for  deficient 
weight,  would  make  $8.36  paid  for  what  is  a 
direct  loss.  As  this  company  is  represented  to 
sell  20,000  tons  yearly,  the  reader  can  readily 
calculate  what  is  made  from  the  sale  of  the 
water  alone.  But  this  is  not  a  strictly  correct 
i;ho\vin^'  of  what  the  fanner  pays  for  the  water. 


ANALYSES.  213 

We  have  shown  what  136-60  lbs.  of  the  ton  is 
worth  to  the  farmer,  as  ammonia,  nitrogen,  pot- 
ash, and  soluble  phosphoric  acid.  Hence,  he 
pays  $28.02  for  1863-4  lbs.  of  water,  sand,  and 
other  inert  substances,  which  is  over  li  cents 
per  lb. 

We  give  the  following  quotations  from  the 
circular  of  the  wholesale  agents  of  this  Fertilizing 
Company 

1.  **A  beneficent  Providence  has  aggregated  the  crude  ele- 
ments of  fertility/  in  exhaiistless  quantities  all  over  the  world — 
upon  islands  of-the  sea,  and  in  the  sea  and  elsewhere.  Nature, 
however,  does  not  yield  her  treasures  without  an  equivalent. 
Coal  is  found  embedded  in  mountains  ;  the  precious  metals  are 
held  bound  in  the  quartz  rock,  and  are  adapted  to  the  uses  for 
which  nature  designed  them,  only  at  the  cost  of  labor,  enterprise 
and  capital.  So  also  these  deposits  in  their  natural  state  are 
not  in  condition  for  practical  utility,  but  modern  science  has 
developed  methods  by  which  they  are  capable  of  the  highest 
utility  to  the  most  important  of  all  interests.  Hence,  v/hile 
nature  furnishes  the  crude  material,  and  science  the  method^ 
still  capital,  skill,  enterprise  and  labor  are  required  to  adapt 
them  to  the  purposes  designed  by  nature." 

2.  "  An  intelligent  pursuit  of  this  business  requires  a  know- 
ledge of  the  science  of  chemistry,  especially  as  applied  to 
agriculture;  a  knowledge  of  the  physiology  of  plants,  their  vital 
forces,  their  structure  and  organism ;  a  knowledge  of  the  con- 
stituent elements  of  vegetable  nutrition,  of  their  natural  sources 
of  supply,  as  to  whether  they  be  of  organic  or  inorganic  origin ; 
a  knowledge  of  the  constituents  of  the  atmosphere  and  their 
relations  to  cultivated  plants,  of  the  nature  of  soils  and  the 
conditions  in  which  the  elements  of  fertility  may  exist;  a 
knowledge  of  the  nature  and  character  of  the  elements  which 
should  enter  info  the  composition  of  a  concentrated  fertilizer, 
their  relative  proportion    etc,  ;  .a  knowledge  of  the  difference 


214  AMERICAN    MANURES. 

and  value  and  quality  of  certain  elements  which  professional 
chemists  call  by  the  same  names ;  for  example,  phosphate  of 
Hme,  whether  mineral  or  organic,  is  called  phosphate  of  lime ; 
potash,  whether  supphed  from  felspar  or  in  soluble  form,  is 
called  potash.  In  making  a  report  of  analyses,  chemists  are 
not  expected  and  do  not  make  note  of  these  important  differ- 
ences. They  take  no  note  of  the  fact  as  to  whether  ammonia 
in  a  fertilizer  be  in  the  form  of  salts,  or  bo  generated  from  ani- 
mal organic  matter ;  hence,  published  analyses  may  not  give 
a  correct  basis  of  value,  for  all  these  questions  enter  in  the 
consideration." 

3.  ''  If  the  business  be  pursued  without  these  proper  qualifica- 
tions it  becomes  the  subject  of  quackery,  as  is  the  case  in  other 
professions.  A  quack  is  he  who  pursues  a  profession  under  the 
guidance  of  rules  and  examples,  without  knowledge  of  laivs  or 
principles,  and  is  therefore  liable  to  constant  blunders  and  mis- 
takes. No  business  partaking  of  the  nature  of  a  profession  has 
been  more  subject  to  the  intrusions  of  quackery  than  this  very 
business  of  manufacturing  fertilizers ;  hence  it  is,  that  so  many 
fertilizers  have  been  placed  upon  the  markets  which  have 
proved  so  nearly  worthless,  as  on  the  one  hand  to  involve  loss 
of  money  and  time  to  the  consumer,  and  on  the  other  to  create 
distrust  in  their  minds  of  those  articles  that  are  brought  into 
market  by  parties  possessing  all  the  requisite  qualifications  as 
to  knowledge  of  principles  involved,  and  the  facilities  afforded 
by  ample  material  resources." 

Little  need  be  said  on  these  stilted  quota- 
tions, they  speak  for  themselves;  and  if  the 
reader  will  compare  them  with  the  analyses  of 
their  fertilizer,  he  will  be  satisfied  that  they 
know  their  duty,  but  do  it  not — hence  the  greater 
the  condemnation. 

Eival  manufacturers  should  feel  obliged  to 
this  company  for  showing  them  the  qualifica- 
tions  requisite   for  a  successful  prosecution  of 


ANALYSES.  215 

their  business ;  and,  of  course,  rather  than  be 
stigmatized  as  quacks^  they  will  at  once  qualify 
themselves  accordingly,  and  then  we  hope  they 
will  feel  the  additional  accountability  they  have 
imposed  on  themselves,  and  make  a  better  use 
of  their  knowledge  than  the  Soluble  Pacific 
Guano  Company. 

Their  remarks  on  the  practices  of  Anlytical 
Chemists  are  very  exceptionable,  and  demand  a 
few  words  of  explanation.  We  don't  wish  to 
be  considered  apologists  for  these  chemists — they 
are  getting  all  they  deserve — but  it  is  not  right 
that  their  profession  should  be  made  disreputa- 
ble on  their  account.  In  too  many  instances 
they  have  made  willing  tools  of  themselves  to 
advance  the  interests  and  further  the  dishonest 
practices  of  these  manufacturers ;  but  after  it  is 
done,  these  manufacturers,  in  common  with 
other  leading  swindlers,  shoulder  all  the  re- 
sponsibility on  their  subordinates.  No  honest 
chemist,  in  rendering  an  analysis  of  a  fertilizer, 
would  confound  the  potash  as  existing  in  the 
sulphate  or  muriate  with  that  of  felspar,  or  with 
felspar  itself;  neither  would  he  make  use  of 
the  combining  numbers  of  gaseous  ammonia 
with  one  equivalent  of  water,  nor  of  the  com- 
bining numbers  of  hydrate  of  ammonia  for  those 
of  gaseous  ammonia  without  an  explanation,  or 
use  such  a  term  as  "  Soluble  Bone  Phosphate  of 


216  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

Lime/'  per  se  ;  when  this  is  done,  it  is  the  manu- 
facturer or  his  agent,  not  the  chemist,  that 
should  be  accountable. 

This  Company  can  very  properly  be  styled  the 
^^  Veneering s^^  of  the  fertilizing  business.  The 
large  resources  of  the  Company  ($1,000,000) 
are  prominently  placed  before  the  public;  they 
breathe  in  every  line  of  their  circular ;  they  are 
reflected  from  the  plate  glass  and  gilt  letters  of 
the  luxurious  oflBce  of  their  principal  agent ;  they 
shine  on  the  face  of  the  porter  that  handles  the 
bags ;  they  are  on  the  tongue  of  every  one  em- 
ployed by  the  Company.  But  with  all  these  re« 
sources,  these  men  defraud  the  farmer  of  the  fruits 
of  his  labor.  In  speaking  of  the  potash  used, 
they  say : 

''Although  the  existmg  war  between  France  and  Prussia 
may  interrupt  commercial  intercourse,  supplies  already  re- 
ceived by  the  Company  are  sufficient  to  meet  its  wants. 

"This  additional  element  of  value  is  made  at  considerable 
additional  cost,  but  in  pursuance  of  the  policy  to  furnish  the 
best  article  at  the  lowest  possible  cost  to  consumers,  there  will 
be  no  advance  in  the  price  of  the  Guano." 

"A  great  cry,  but  little  wool."  If  the  reader 
will  refer  to  the  analyses,  he  will  see  that  each 
ton  contains  a  little  over  Qi  lbs.  of  potash,  worth 
77  cents.  This  is  only  a  sample  of  the  high- 
sounding  representations  of  these  men,  and  shows 
the  margin  that  should  be  allowed  on  their  state- 
ments. It  is  due  to  the  public  that  they  furnish 
an  analysis  of  their  fertilizer. 


ANALYSES. 


217 


ANALYSES  OF  BAUGH  &  SONS'  EAW  BONE 

SUPERPHOSPHATE. 

Percentage,  or  amount  contained  in  100. 


1st 
Sample. 

2.1 
Sample. 

Mean. 

Water  (expelled  at  | 
2 120  Fahrenheit).} 

7-71 

7-50 

7-61 

Nitrogen. 

0-21 

0-22 

0-22  :- 0-27  J  ^''*''^^^'^- 
\      monia. 

1-00 

Nitrogen  in  organic  ) 
matter.                   j 

0-95 

1-04 

Potash,   soluble   in  | 
acidulated  water,  j 

trace 

trac« 

trace 

Phosphoric    Acid"] 

/  Ruperphos- 

(anhydrous),    so- 

3-36 

3-34 

3-35  =  b -52]      P^^^®  ^^ 

luble   in   water, 

(      Tjime. 

at  60O  to  70O  F. 

Insoluble  Phospho- Y 

/  Bone  Phos- 

ric    Acid    (ax-ihy-  >• 

9-25 

9-46 

9'36^20-43]      pirate    of 

drous).                    J 

(     Lime. 

From  the  mean  of  the  above  analyses,  we  de- 
duce the  following  amounts  contained  in  a  ton,  or 
2000  lbs.,  together  with  the  value  of  a  ton  to  th<> 
farmer : 


152-20  lbs. 

Water @  $0.00  per  lb. 

$0.00 

5-40    '* 

Actual  Ammonia @    0.25     " 

1.35 

20-00     " 

Nitrogen  in  organic  mat.  @    0.15     ** 

3.00 

(< 

Trace  Potash @    0.08      " 

0.00 

67-00    '' 

Soluble  Phos.  Acid @    0.12^   " 

8.38 

187-20     *' 

Insoluble     "         ''     @    0.00     " 

0.00 

Total  value  as  a  fertilizer $12.73 

Yalue  of  bags  (say) 2.00 

Total  value  to  farmer $14.73 

The  above  Superphosphate  is  sold  at  $50  per 
ton,  involving  a  loss  of  $0 5. 2 7,  or  more  than  239 
per  cent,  to  the  farmer  on  every  ton  he  pur- 
chases ;  or,  in  other  words,  he  pays  more  than 
3i  times  what  it  is  worth. 


218  AMERICAN   MANURES. 


BAUGH  AND  SONS'  RAW  BONE   SUPER- 
PHOSPHATE. 

The  Superphosphate,  from  which  the  sam- 
ples for  analyses  were  selected,  was  purchased  at 
the  manufacturers'  office,  Philadelphia.  This 
fertilizer  is  put  up  in  bags  marked  160  lbs. ;  the 
bag  purchased  weighed  158  lbs.  The  mechani- 
cal condition  of  this  fertilizer  was  bad ;  it  had 
formed  in  hard  lumps  in  the  bags,  requiring  con- 
siderable force  to  pulverize. 

We  make  the  following  quotations  from  the 
circulars  of  the  manufacturers,  and  from  the 
"  Journal  of  the  Farm,"  published  also  by  them  : 

1  "  That  the  standard  of  our  Eaw  Bone  Superphosphate 
has  never  been  hnpaired,  but  that  we  have  constantly  sought 
to  improve  its  vakie  as  a  •permanent  Bone  Manure  by  every 
facility  at  our  command." 

2.  "  It  is  better  than  Peruvian  Guano,  because  it  does  not 
over-stimulate  the  soil.  It  has  less  Ammonia  than  Peruvian, 
but  it  has  Ammonia  enough  for  all  the  purposes  of  a  crop,  and 
more  Ammonia  than  this  does  more  harm  than  good." 

3.  '*It  is>better  than  any  Guano,  or  mixture  of  Guanos,  or 
any  Superphosphate  we  are  acquainted  with,  because  being 
made  of  Bone,  it  remains  active  in  the  soil,  and  continues  to 
produce  crops  year  after  year,  which  farmers  well  know  is  not 
the  case  with  other  •  quick-acting  and  easily  exhausted  Phos- 
phates." 

4.  "It  has  never  been  the  policy  nor  aim  of  the  manufactu- 
rers of  Baugh's  Raw  Bone  Phosphate  to  push  forward  their 
article  by  any  extraordinary  means,  nor  by  disparaging  any 
of  the  other  excellent  manures  and  guanos  in  the  American 
market." — Journal  of  the  Farm. 


ANALYSES.  219 

5.  ''  Bone  is  the  natural  fertilizer,  intended  by  Provi- 
dence to  keep  up  the  fertility." 

6.  "  The  best  manure  is  the  cheapest.  ...  At  the 
present  high  price  of  all  kinds  of  fertilizers,  it  is  very  poor 
economy  to  remain  uninformed  of  the  quality  and  character 
of  the  manures  used." 

7.  "The  price  of  the  article,  at  the  present  rate  of  the  raw 
material,  is  placed  as  low  as  it  is  possible  to  afford  a  manure  of 
like  standard  ;  the  constant  desire  of  the  manufacturers  being 
to  furnish  to  farmers  an  article  of  a  high  quality,  at  as  low 
rate  as  the  most  prudent  and  economical  could  not  object  to." 

8.  "  It  is  the  cheapest  fertilizer  now  before  the  public. — 
This  is  substantiated  by  the  careful  experiments  of  thousands 
of  practical  farmers  in  the  United  States,  and  the  same  con- 
clusion may  be  arrived  at  by  those  who  will  compare  the  per- 
centage and  price  of  any  fertilizer  ofiered  in  the  market." 

9.  ''It  must  be  borne  in  mind,  however,  in  making  this  cal- 
culation, that  Phosphate  of  Lime  is  valuable  only  in  such  form 
or  combination  as  will  act  directly  and  effectually  upon  the 
soil.  There  are  many  fertilizers  said  to  contain  a  large  per- 
centage, which  are  almost  useless  or  inoperative,  by  reason  of 
this  insolubility  or  connection  with  deleterious  substances." 

10.  *'  In  Baugh's  '  Kaw  Bone  Phosphate,'  the  Phosphate  of 
Lime  is  in  its  purest  and  most  effective  form,  and  acts  imme- 
diately and  directly  without  any  counteracting  influence." 

11.  •'  The  reason  of  this  is, -that  it  is  made  fvoin  pure  bones  ; 
the  original  animal  matter  being  present,  and  not  having  been 
extracted  by  burning,  steaming,  or  any  of  the  processes  to 
which  nearly  all  the  bones  sold  to  farmers  are  subjected." 

12.  .  .  "In  the  process  of  manufacturing,  the  animal  mat- 
ter of  the  '  Raw  Bone  '  is  converted  into  Ammonia,  and  the 
Phosphate  of  Lime  which  it  contains  is  rendered  sufficiently 
soluble  to  act  upon  the  growing  plant." 

13.  "And  these  two  important  agents  begin  to  act  at  once,  tho 
Ammonia  making  the  leaf  and  stalk,  and  the  Phosphate  of 
Lime  making  the  grain." 

14.  "  Neither  *  Stable  Manure'  '  GuanOy  nor  any  '  Super- 
phosphate,'  or  other  preparations  with  which  we  are  acquainted, 

15 


220  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

will  at  all  compare  with  '  Baugh's  Raw  Bone  Phosphate  '  in 
its  lasting  effects,  as  a  crop  producer  and  permanent  improver 
of  the  soil." 

Messrs.  Dugdale  and  Girvin,  of  Baltimore,  are 
the  wholesale  agents  for  Baugh's  Raw  Bone 
Phosphate.  We  quote  the  following  from  their 
circular  in  relation  to  this  fertilizer : 

"  In  again  offering  to  the  agricultural  community  this  well 
known  Fertilizer,  it  is  only  necessary  for  us  to  say  that  it  is 

HIGHLY  IMPROVED  AND  BETTER  THAN  EVER." 

"  The  basis  of  its  manufacture  is,  as  formerly,  pure  Raw 
Bone." 

**  It  has  more  Soluble  Phosphate — hence  is  quicker  in  its 
action.'^ 

"  Although  second  to  none,  and  superior  to  many  other  Ferti- 
lizers, its  price  is  lower  than  most  articles  of  similar  valued 

ANALYSIS! 

Soluble  Bone  Phosphate 14-10 

Sol^ble  i^  the  soil 19-64 

Aifln^onia 3-16 


The  reader  will  notice  that  the  chemist's  sig- 
nature is  wanting;  and  as  no  honest,  capable 
chemist  would  make  use  of  such  terms  as  "  Solu- 
ble Bone  Phosphate/'  or  "  Soluble  in  the  soil " 
without  an  explanation,  the  above  "  analysis " 
is  open  to  very  grave  suspicion. 

Note. — One  of  the  authors  having  been  in  the  employ  of 
Messrs.  Baugh  &  Sons  for  a  number  of  years,  the  authors, 
from  a  feeling  of  delicacy,  forbear  criticising  or  censuring  either 
their  circular  or  product ;  otherwise,  they  might  do  so  with 
great  propriety. 


ANALYSES. 


221 


ANALYSES    OF    E.   FRANK   COE'S   SUPP^RPHOS- 
PHATE   OF   LIME. 

Percentage,  or  amount  contaiyied  in  100. 


Water  (expelled  at  ] 
2120  Fahrenheit),  j 

Nitrogen  . . 

Nitrogen  in  organic 
matter 

Potash,  soluble    m 
acidulated  water, 

Phosphoric    Acid 
(anhydrous),  sol- 
uble in  water  at  j 
60Oto70OF J 

Insoluble  Phospho-") 
ric  Acid  (anhy-  V 
drous) ) 


lie  I 


1st 
Sample. 

2(i 
S'luiple. 

13-00 

13-11 

0-55 

0-51 

1-35 

1-43 

trace 

trace 

6-39 

6-53 

8-29 

8-32 

Mean. 


:0-64 


j  Actual  Am- 
1      monia. 


1306 
0-53= 
1-39 

trace 

f  Superphos- 
6-46-=10-64S      phate  of 
I     Lime. 

[  Bone  Phos- 
8-31=18-14  j      phate  of 
I     Lime. 


From  the  mean  of  the  above  analyses  we  de- 
duce the  following  amounts  contained  in  a  ton, 
or  2000  lbs.,  together  with  the  value  of  a  ton  to 
the  farmer : 

261-20  lbs.  Water >• . .  @ 

12-80    "     Actual  Ammonia. @ 

27-80    "     Nitrogen  in  organic  mat.  (^ 

129-20    "      Soluble  Phos.  Acid @ 

166-20    "     Insoluble     "         "      ..,,  (a) 


$  0.00  per  lb.  $  0.00 

0.25       "  3.20 

0.15       "  4.17 

0.12i     '*  16.15 

0.00       "  0.00 


Total  value  as  fertilizer $23.52 

Value  of  bags  (say) 2.00 


Total  value  to  farmer $25.52 

The  above  Superphosphate  is  sold  at  $52  per 
ton,  involving  a  loss  of  $26.48,  or  nearly  104 
per  cent,  to  the  farmer  on  every  ton  he  pur- 
chases ;  or,  in  other  words,  he  pays  more  than 
twice  as  much  as  it  is  worth. 


222  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

E.  FRANK   COE'S    SUPERPHOSPHATE 
OF    LIME. 

The  above  Superphosphate,  from  which  sam- 
ples for  analyses  were  selected,  was  purchased 
from  Graham,  Emlen  &  Passmore,  the  manufac- 
turers agents,  Philadelphia.  Its  mechanical  con- 
dition was  good,  and  we  should  think  it  could  be 
easily  applied  with  a  drill.  We  select  the  fol- 
lowing analyses  from  the  manufacturer  s  circu- 
lar ;  the  first  was  made  by  Dr.  G.  A.  Liebig,  Bal- 
timore, dated  August  3d,  1854.  The  second  was 
made  by  Professor  S.  W.  Johnson,  of  Yale  Col- 
lege, dated  May  23d,  1865.  If  the  reader  will 
compare  these  analyses  with  the  analyses  of  this 
Superphosphate  as  purchased  by  us,  he  will  see 
how  this  celebrated  fertilizer  has  gradually  de- 
teriorated in  value ;  comment  is  unnecessary  : 

ANALYSIS   BY  -DR  LIEBIG,  GIVES  : 

Phosphoric  Acid  contained  in  Biphosphate  of  Lime,  12-11 

Pliosphoric  Acid  free  (anhydrous) 4*80 

Total  Phosphoric  acid  (soluble) 16*91 

Phosphate  of  Iron  and  Ammonia 0*34 

Alkaline  Salts -41 

Organic  matter  capable  of  producing  Ammonia 3-65 

"Water  as  Moisture  and  Loss 15-87 

ANALYSIS  BY  PROFESSOR  JOHNSON,  GIVES  : 

Water  expelled  at  212° 12-18 

Soluble  Phosphoric  Acid 9-43 

Insoluble  Phosphoric  Acid 1-G5 

Ammonia  in  organic  and  volatile  mutters 2-76 


ANALYSES. 


223 


ANALYSES  OF  MORO  PHILLIPS'  PHUINE. 

Ferceyitaqe,  or  amount  coniawed  in  100. 


Water  (expelled  at|^ 
2120  Fahrenheit).  I 


Nitrogen 

Nitrogen  in  organic 
matter. 

Potash,  soluble  in 
acidulated  water, 

Phosphoric  Acid 
(anhydrous),  sol- 
uble in  water  at 
60O  to  70°  F. 

Insoluble  Phospho- 
ric Acid  (anhy- 
drous). 


:} 


1st 

2iid 

Sample. 

Sainpltt. 

7'88 

7-7G 

017 

0-18 

0-93 

0-95 

0-94 

0-88 

2-71 

2-65 

13-89 

13-97 

f  Actual  Am- 
1     monia. 


7-82 

0-18-=0'22 

0-94 

0-91 


Super  phos- 
2-68=4-42  \      phate     of 
Lime. 

Bone  Phos- 
13-93^=30-41-^      phate    of 
Lime. 


From  the  mean  of  the  above  analyses^  we  de- 
duce the  following  amounts  contained  in  a  ton, 
or  2000  lbs. ^  together  with  the  value  of  a  ton  to 
the  farmer : 

156-40  lbs.  Water 

4*40     "     Actual  Ammonia 

18*80     *'     Nitrogen  in  organic  mat.. .. 


18-20     *'     Potash 

53-60     "     Soluble  Phos.  Acid. 
278-60     ''     Insoluble   "        "     . 


50.00  per  lb.  $0.00 
0.25  "  LIO 
0.15  "  2.82 
0.08  *'  1.46 
0.12^  "  6.70 
0.00       "        0.00 


Total  value  as  fertilizer $1-2.08 

Yalue  of  bags  (say) 2.00 


Total  value  to  farmer $14.08 

The  above  Fertilizer  is  sold  at  $50  per  ton,  in- 
volving a  loss  of  $35. 92, or  255  percent.,  to  the  far- 
mer on  every  ton  he  purchases;  or, in  other  words, 
he  pays  for  it  3i  times  as  much  as  it  is  worth. 


224 


AMERICAN   MANURES. 


ANALYSES  OF  MORO  PHILLIPS'  GENUINE 
PROVED  SUPERPHOSPHATE  OF  LIME. 

Percentage,  or  mnount  contained  in  100. 


IM- 


Water(expelledat 
2120  Fah.) 

Nitrogen. 

Nitrogen  in  or- 
ganic matter. 

Potash,  soluble  in  ) 
acidulated  water  J 

Phosphoric  Acid  ^ 
(anhydrous),  I 
soluble  in  water  f 
at  60O  to  70O  F.  J 

Insoluble  Phos- 
phoric Acid 
(anhydrous). 


l8t 

Sample. 

2d 
Sample. 

12-40 

12-42 

0-26 

0-21 

0-39 

0-42 

0-80 

0-74 

4-63 

4-54 

13-21 

13-40 

Mean. 


12-41 
0-24: 
0-41 

0-77 


=0-29  I 


Actual  Am 
inonia. 


C  Superphos- 
4*59=  7*56  <      phate  of 
(^     Lime. 

TBonePhos- 
13-31=:2906  -]      phate  of 
(^      Lime. 


•  From  the  mean  of  the  above  analyses,  we  de- 
duce the  following  amounts  contained  in  a  ton, 
or  2000  lbs.,  together  with  the  value  of  a  ton  to 
the  farmer : 

248-20  lbs.  Water @  $0.00  per  lb.  $0.00 


.5-80 

8-20 

15-40 

91-80 

266-20 


Actual  Ammonia 

Nitrogen  in  organic  mat.. 

Potash 

Soluble  Plios.  Acid 

Insoluble    "         "    


@ 
Co) 


0.25 

0.15 

0.08 

0.12^ 

0.00 


1.45 
1.23 
1.23 

11.48 
0.00 


Total  value  as  fertilizer $15-39 

Yalue  of  bags  (say) 2.00 


Total  value  to  farmer $17-39 

The  above  Superphosphate  is  sold  at  $50  per 
ton,  involving  a  loss  of  $32. 61,  or  188  per  cent, 
to  the  farmer  on  every  ton  he  purchases ;  or,  in 
other  words,  he  pays  for  it  nearly  2tV  times  as 
much  as  it  is  worth. 


ANALYSES.  225 

MORO  PHILLIPS'   GENUINE   IMPROVED 
SUPERPHOSPHATE  OP  LIME. 

The  above  Superphospliate,  from  which  the 
samples  for  analyses  were  selected,  was  j)urchased 
from  the  manufacturer  at  his  office  in  Philadel- 
phia. It  is  put  up  in  bags  marked  200  lbs. ; 
the  one  purchased  weighed  200  lbs.  The 
Phuine  was  purchased  at  the  works  of  the  man- 
ufacturer in  Camden.  It  is  put  up  in  bags 
marked  200  lbs. ;  the  one  purchased  weighed 
196  lbs.  The  mechanical  condition  of  both  the 
Superphosphate  and  the  Phuine  was  very  good, 
and  we  should  judge  that  they  could  be  easily  ap- 
plied with  a  drill.  We  give  the  following  quo- 
tations from  the  circular  of  the  manufacturer, 
showing  what  he  modestly  claims  for  his  "  Genu- 
ine Improved  Superphosphate  of  Lime."  Of  the 
Phuine,  he  says  nothing.  Our  analyses  of  the 
latter  will  fully  show  its  claims, 

"  l^Calling  the  attention  of  buyers  to  this  highly  concen- 
trated genuine  Superphosphate,  I  guarantee  it  to  be  as  repre- 
sented." 

''I  CLAIM, 

"  First. — That  it  contains  less  moisture  than  any  other  in 
the  market.  The  ingredients  of  this  Superphosphate  are  Bone 
Phosphate,  Sulphuric  Acid  and  Ammonia." 

"Second. — It  is  more  uniform  in  quality,  one  bag  being  a  fair 
sample  of  10,000  tons." 

"Third. — It  contains  more  agricultural  value  than  any  other 
Superphosphate  of  Lime  in  the  market." 

"  Fourth. — The  desire  of  the  manufacturer  to  maintain  his 


226  AxMERICAN   MANURES. 

high  reputation  as  a  manufacturer  of  acids  and  other  ch  ?mi 
cals,  as  well  as  the  manufacturer  of  the  best  Superphosphate, 
is  a  safe  ground  of  assurance  that  it  will  ahvays  be  uniformly 
excellent ;  and  a  further  guarantee  of  uniformity  is,  that  it  is 
always  made  in  the  same  way  from  one  source,  and  that  its 
ource  is  unlimited  in  extent,  and  under  his  entire  control." 

"  Fifth. — The  consumer  can  depend  upon  always  receiving  a 
uniform  article." 

"I  recommend  this  article  with  confidence,  because  T  know 
what  it  is,  and  have  experience  as  to  its  effects.  The  value  of 
a  real  Supherphosphate  of  Lime  as  a  fertilizer  is  well  known, 
both  in  this  country  and  Europe.  In  England  alone,  more 
than  ONE  HUNDRED  thousand  tons  are  annually  sold.  I  intro- 
duce this  article  to  farmers  in  general  as  a  staple  and  standard 
article,  intending  to  make  it  a  permanent  trade." 

"  Examine  carefully  the  brand  on  each  barrel  and  bag ;  by 
paying  attention  to  this  you  will  never  be  deceived  into  buying 
a  worthless  article." 

■  *'  The  proprietor  had  to  overcome  at  first  the  great  predju- 
dice  existing  to  Superphosphates  in  general,  as  there  had  been 
so  many  spurious  articles  in  the  market  of  late  years  ;  but  he  is 
happy  to  say,  he  has  succeeded  in  doing  so,  and  the  only  way 
now  to  retain  the  returning  confidence  of  agriculturists,  is  to 
keep  true  to  his  promise  and  keep  his  Superphosphate  to  its 
standard." 

"  Caution  to  Buyers, 

'*  Observe  that  my  name  and  place  of  manufacture  are  on 
each  and  every  package,  none  other  being  genuine.  I  will 
guarantee  the  quality  of  every  package  sold  by  me,  and  if  any 
manufacturer  or  dealer  should  be  induced,  by  the  reputation 
of  my  article,  to  palm  a  spurious  imitation  of  it  on  the  public, 
it  will  be  my  business  to  detect  and  punish  him.  Should  this 
book  reach  any  parties  who  have  sold  or  used,  or  who  may 
hereafter  use  my  Superphosphate,  and  should  it  not  fulfil  all 
it  professes  to  do,  they  have  full  liberty  to  contradict  my 
assertions,  and  I  will  cheerfully  bear  all  the  expenses  of  tlie 
same."  '•  Moro  Phillips, 

*'  Sole  Froprietor  and  Manufacturer," 


ANALYSES.  227 

This  manufacturer  makes  great  pretensions 
of  the  quality  and  standard  of  his  Superphos- 
phate ;  but  unfortunately  he  has  not  stated  in  his 
circulars  what  this  quality  and  standard  is,  or 
given  an  analysis;  consequently,  we  are  com- 
pelled to  take  our  analyses  of  his  Superphosphate 
as  our  guide  in  deciding  this  matter,  from  which 
showing  we  feel  compelled  to  state  that  the 
standard  is  low  and  the  quality  bad,  and  at  the 
price  at  which  it  is  sold,  is  a  shameful  imposi- 
tion on  the  farmer ;  and  also  that  the  manufac- 
turer should  look  at  home,  instead  of  censuring 
rival  manufacturers,  or,  in  other  words,  ^^  He 
should  take  the  beam  out  of  his  own  eye,  to  ena- 
ble him  to  see  clearly  to  take  the  mote  out  of 
his  brother's  eye."  And  we  think  the  agricultural 
community  will  consider  it  the  duty  of  the  manu- 
facturer to  elevate  the  standard  and  improve 
the  quality  of  his  Superphosphate,  if  that  be 
pdssible^  rather  than  keep  it  at  its  present 
grade.  When  he  does  this,  he  will  discover  that 
it  is  not  necessary  to  blow  his  own  trumpet  as 
long  and  as  loud  as  he  has  done. 

Little  need  be  said  of  the  Phuine ;  it  is  sold 
at  the  same  price  as  the  Superphosphate,  and 
hence,  the  reader  can  see  by  the  analyses,  that 
it  is  even  a  greater  swindle  than  the  latter. 


228 


AMERICAN    MANURES. 


ANALYSES  OF  ''THE  EXCELLENZA  AMMONIATED 
SOLUBLE   PHOSPHATE." 

Percentage,  or  amount  contaiiied  in  100. 


Water  (expelled  at  | 
2120  Fahrenheit)  j 

Nitrogen 

Nitrogen  in  or-  ] 
ganic  matter  . .  J 

Potash,  soluble  in ) 
acidulated  water. ) 

Phosphoric  Acid  ^ 
(anhydrous),  sol-  | 
uble  in  water  at  j 
60Oto  70OF...  J 

Insoluble  Phos- 
phoric Acid  (an- 
hydrous)   


1st 
Sample. 

2d 
Sample. 

13-86 

13-79 

0-55 

0-57 

2-41 

2-31 

trace 

trace 

9-71 

9-84 

1-68 

1-57 

Mean. 


13-83 

0-56 -=0 
2-36 

trace 
9-78==16' 


-68  I 


Actual  Am- 
monia. 


■"{ 


1-63  =-3-56 


Superphos- 
phate of 
Lime. 

Bone  Phos- 
phate of 
Lime. 


From  the  mean  of  the  above  analyses,  we  de- 
duce the  following  amounts  contained  in  a  ton, 
or  2000  lbs.,  together  with  the  value  of  a  ton  to 
the  farmer : 

276-60  lbs.  Water. 
13-60 
47-20 


195-60 
32-60 


Actual  Ammonia (db 

Nitrogen  in  organic  matter.  @ 
Trace  Potash @ 

Soluble  Phosphoric  Acid..  @ 
Insoluble         ''  "  (cb 


)0.00perlb. 

$  0.00 

0.25       " 

3.40 

0.15       " 

7.08 

0.08       '' 

0.00 

0.12i     " 

24.45 

0.00       '' 

0.00 

Total  value  as  fertilizer $34.93 

Yalue  of  bags  (say) 2.00 

Total  value  to  farmer $36.93 

The  above  fertilizer  is  sold  at  $56  per  ton,  in- 
volving a  loss  of  $19.07,  or  52  per  cent,  to  the 
farmer  on  every  ton  he  purchases ;  or,  in  other 
words,  he  pays  for  it  more  than  li  times  as 
much  as  it  is  worth. 


ANALYSES.  229 

THE  EXCELLENZA  AMMONIATED 
SOLUBLE  PHOSPHATE. 

The  above  phosphate,  from  which  samples 
for  analyses  were  selected,  was  purchased  from 
Messrs.  Dugdale  &  Girvin,  Baltimore.  It  is  put 
up  in  bags  marked  200  lbs. ;  the  one  purchased 
weighed  198  lbs.  Its  mechanical  condition  was 
good.  Messrs.  Dugdale  &  Girvin  state  in  their 
circular  that : 

"  We  have  been  at  special  pains  in  the  manufacture  of  the  '  Ex- 
cellenza,'  to  produce  a  greater  amount  of  soluble  material  for  the 
price,  than  any  other  fertilizer  with  which  we  are  acquainted." 

They  also  give  an  endorsement  and  analysis 
of  Professor  Chandler,  as  follows : 

**  School  or  Mines,  Columbia  College. 
''  New  Yokk,  September  26,  1870. 
"I  have  examined  the  'Excellenza'  ammoniated  superphos- 
phate of  lime,  and  find  it  to  be  an  excellent  article,  containing  from 
14  to  15  per  cent,  of  soluble  phosphoric  acid,  which  is  a  veri/ 
unusual  percentage.  It  also  contains  a  very  good  percentage 
of  ammonia,  or  ammonia-producing  materials.  li  {s  one  of  the 
best  fertilizers  in  the  market,  and  is  superior  to  most  of  the  other 
superphosphates.  "  C.  F.  Chandler,  Ph.  D., 

'^Prof  Analytical  and  Applied  Chemistry ^ 

CP]RTIFICATE  OF  ANALYSIS. 

New  York,  August  11,  1870. 
The  sample  of  "Excellenza  Ammoniated  Soluble  Phosphate," 
submitted  to  me  for  examination,  contains, 

Ammonia  (N.H.  4-0) 4;16 

Soluble  Phosphoric  Acid 14*45 

Equal  to  Soluble  Bone  Phosphate 31*50 

Insoluble  Phosphoric  Acid 0*26 

Equal  to  Insoluble  Bone  Phosphate, . .  0*62 

Respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 
(Signed),  C.  F.  Chandler,  Ph.  D., 

Prof.  Analytical  and  Applied  Chemistry, 


230  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

We  are  at  a  loss  to  know  whether  the  Pro- 
fessor, in  rendering  the  soluble  phosphoric  acid, 
has  reference  to  the  hydrated  or  the  anJiydrous 
acid.  If  we  regard  it  as  hydrated'  phosphoric 
acid,  and  compare  the  Professor's  analysis  with 
our  analyses,  the  similarity  is  quite  striking,  for 
14*45  per  cent,  of  hydrated  phosphoric  acid 
correspond  to  10*47  of  the  anliydrous  acid,  and 
10*47  oi  anliydrous  phosphoric  acid,  or  14*45  of 
the  hydrated^  are  equal  to  22*86  of  bone  j)hosphate 
of  lime  rendered  soluhle^  not  "31*50"  (31*54). 
If  the  14*45  per  cent,  represent  anliydrous  phos- 
phoric acid,  then  31*54,  representing  the  amount 
of  bone  phosphate  of  lime  rendered  soluble^  is 
correct,  and  the  three  analyses  show  conclusively 
how  the  "  Excellenza "  during  the  few  months 
of  its  existence  has  depreciated  in  value  as  re- 
gards its  phosphoric  acid. 

Messrs.  Dugdale  &  Girvin  are  deserving  of  all 
credit  in  manufacturing  and  introducing  this 
fertilizer ;  and  there  should  be  no  necessity  of  any 
subterfuge  in  recommending  it  to  the  public. 
Truthful,  candid  statements  are  all  that  is 
needed ;  and  if  Messrs.  Dugdale  &  Girvin  will 
conform  to  these,  and  discard  the  trickeries  of 
the  fertilizing  business  as  it  now  is,  we  doubt  not 
that  their  efforts  will  be  crowned  with  success, 
and  they  themselves  will  be  convinced  that 
^^  honesty "  in  this  business,  as  well  as  in  all 
others,  "  is  the  best  policy." 


ANALYSES. 


231 


ANALYSES  OF  BOWERS  COMPLETE  MANURE. 
Percentage,  or  amount  contained  in  100. 


Water  (expelled  at  ] 

2120  Fahrenheit)] 

Nitrogen 

Nitrogen  in  or-  ] 
ganic  matter . .  i 

Potash,  soluble  in  -j 
acidulated  water  j 

Phosphoric  Acid^ 
(anhydrous),  sol-  i 
able  in  water  at  ( 
60O  to  70O  F  . . .  J 

Insoluble  Phos- 
phoric Acid  (an- 
hydrous)   


l8t 

Sample. 

2.1 
Sample. 

7-30 

7-22 

0-21 

0-18 

0-60 

0-70 

0-95 

0-90 

2-07 

1-91 

20-42 

20-28 

7-26 

0-20  ==  0-24  j 

0-65 

0-93 

1-99  ==3-28 

20-35^44-43 


Actual  Am- 
monia. 


Superphos- 
phate of 
Lime. 

Bone  Phos- 
phate of 
Lime. 


From  the  mean  of  the  above  analyses,  we  de- 
duce the  following  amounts  contained  in  a  ton, 
or  2000  lbs.,  together  with  the  value  of  a  ton  to 
the  farmer  : 

145-20  lbs.  Water @  $0.00  per  lb.  $0.00 

4-80    "     Actual  Ammonia @  0.25        "         1.20 

1300    "     Nitrogen  in  organic  matter.  @  0.15        "         1.95 

18-60    "     Potash.. @  0.08        ''         1.49 

39-80    "     Soluble  Phosphoric  Acid  . .  @  0.12i      "         4.98 

407-00    ''     Insoluble         "               "     . .  @  0.00        "         0.00 


Total  value  as  fertilizer $  9.62 

Value  of  bags  (say) 2.00 

Total  value  to  farmer $11.62 

The  above  manure  is  sold  at  $52  per  ton,  in- 
volving a  loss  of  $10.38,  or  348  per  cent,  to  the 
farmer  on  every  ton  he  purchases  ;  or,  for  manure 
alone,  he  pays  5i  times  as  much  as  it  is  worth. 


232  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

BOWER'S  COMPLETE  MANURE. 

The  above  manure,  from  which  samples  for 
analyses  were  selected,  was  purchased  from 
Messrs.  Dixon,  Sharpless  &  Co..  Philadelphia. 
It  is  put  up  in  bags  marked  200  lbs. ;  the  one  pur- 
chased weighed  190  lbs.,  being  10  lbs.  less  than 
it  sliould  have  weighed,  or  a  deficiency  of  100 
lbs.  to  the  ton.  The  mechanical  condition  of 
the  manure  was  good.  The  following  quota- 
tions from  the  manufacturer's  circular  will  be 
valuable  to  the  reader,  from  which  he  can  make 
his  own  deductions 

No.  1.  "  All  will  of  course  agree  that  farm-yard  or  stable 
manure  is  a  good  fertilizer,  yet  unless  it  is  properly  rotted  or 
prepared,  and  kept  from  the  washing  rains,  its  good  qualities 
may  be  much  impaired,  and  within  my  own  experience  but  few 
farmers  pay  enough  attention  to  the  important  point  of  having 
the  manure  in  such  a  place  as  to  prevent  being  leached  out  by 
rains.  Take  the  best  stable  manure,  however,  and  make  a  com- 
parison by  analysis  of  its  virtues  with  that  of  an  artificial  fertil- 
izer, as  the  '  Complete  Manure,'  it  is  found,  estimating  the  cost 
(delivered)  of  farm-yard  manure  at  $5.00  per'  ton,  and  the 
*  Complete  Manure '  at  $60.00,  (delivered,)  that  the  actual 
value  of  the  '  Complete  Manure '  to  the  farmer  is  more  than 
double  its  cost,  when  compared  with  the  very  best  farm-yard 
manure." 

No.  2.  "It  must  be  borne  in  mind,  that  in  order  to  achieve 
the  results  obtained  by  the  '  Complete  Manure,'  a  consider- 
able proportion  of  the  constituents  must  be  in  a  form  to  make 
them  be  taken  up  at  once  by  the  rootlets  of  the  plant ;  that  is 
to  say,  they  must  he  easily  dissolved  in  the  water  contained  in 
the  soil.  It  is  true,  that  Nature,  among  all  her  other  wonders, 
has  provided  means  to  render  soluble  these  constituents,  but 
the  process  has  wisely  been  made  a  slow  one ;  the  chemist  can 


ANALYSES.  233 

provide  the  means  to  make  sufficient  for  the  growing  crop 
dissolvable,  the  balance  remaining  in  the  soil  to  be  acted  upon 
by  the  air  and  water  of  the  soil  to  provide  food  for  future  crops.' 

No.  3.  "  A  benefit  derived  from  the  use  of  a  powerful  man 
ure,  such  as  the  '  Complete  Manure,'  is  that  it  forces  the  young 
plant  forward  by  reason  of  the  large  amount  of  soluble  matter 
it  contains.  'J'he  importance  of  this  cannot  well  be  overesti 
mated,  as  the  plant  soon  reaches  that  degree  of  strength  and 
toughness  which  will  prevent  an  early  frost  from  injuring,  or 
some  insect  from  devouring  it ;  hence  it  may  be  said  to  be  par- 
ticularly  applicable  to  cotton,  tobacco,  wheat,  corn,  potatoes, 
and  other  root  vegetables,  as  all  the  young  plants  of  these  are 
subject  to  the  ravages  of  the  insect,  or  the  blight  of  the  frost.* 

No.  4.  "  In  manufactured  manures,  much  of  their  agricultural 
value  depends  upon  the  mechanical  condition  in  which  they  are 
supplied,  the  extent  to  which  the  component  parts  have  beer, 
pulverized  and  intermixed  ;  the  richest  manure,  chemically  speak 
ing,  will  be  of  little  use  unless  it  is  moderately  dry,  reduced  to 
fine  powder,  and  its  constituents  thoroughly  incorporated.  This 
must  be  borne  in  mind  in  judging  of  the  value  of  a  manure,  and 
a  proportionate  price  ought  to  be  allowed  for  the  degree  of  com- 
pleteness with  which  these  matters  have  been  attended  to.  Al- 
though in  theory  the  production  of  an  artificial  fertilizer  is  a 
very  simple  matter,  in  practice  it  is  found  somewhat  trouble- 
some, from  the  difficulty  of  producing  a  manageable  article,  and 
a  great  deal  of  experience  and  skill  are  required  to  prepare  a 
manure  of  the  requisite  chemical  strength,  and  mechanical 
condition." 

No.  5.  "  In  speaking  with  farmers  during  the  past  season, 
many  complaints  have  been  met  with  of  the  inefficiency  of  some 
superphosphates,  prepared  guanos,  poudrettes,  and  other  so- 
called  manures,  some  of  them  with  high-sounding  titles,  having 
failed  to  produce  the  results  their  manufacturers  claimed  they 
would  give.  This  has,  no  doubt,  in  some  instances  been  the  re- 
sult of  a  bad  season,  or  bad  farming,  or  some  untoward  cause 
which  is  unaccountable ;  but  there  is  good  reason  to  fear  that 
it  has  been  the  result  of  adulteration.^' 

No.  6.  "'J'he  adulteration  of  manures,  as  indeed  of  all  other 
articles  of  commerce,  is  a  practice  that  cannot  be  too  strongly 


234  AMERICAN    xAIANURES. 

condemned  ;  and  it  is  much  to  be  regretted  that  the  laws  of  this 
country  afford  too  many  chances  for  successfully  carrying  on 
this  species  of  fraud." 

No.  7.  "  In  the  case  of  manures  their  adulteration  is  attended 
with  several  evils  besides  the  more  direct  one  of  robbing  those 
who  purchase  the  adulterated  article.  The  fact  of  manures 
being  known  to  be  extensively  adulterated  tends  to  restrict 
their  use,  and  to  withhold  the  good  that  a  more  extended  use 
of  these  materials  is  calculated  to  confer  both  on  the  farmer 
and  on  the  community.  For  the  same  reason  the  trade  of 
honest  manufacturers  is  injured  and  confined.  Under  the 
name  of  manures  all  kinds  of  mixtures  are  sold,  often  worth  but 
a  fraction  of  the  price  paid  for  them,  and  in  too  many  instances 
altogether  worthless.  The  frauds  practised  by  dishonest  man- 
ure dealers  consist  of  diluting  or  weakening  of  standard  man- 
ures— by  the  admixture  of  less  valuable  or  worthless  material, 
as  tanner's  bark,  road  or  street  scrapings,  old  mortar,  spent 
wood-ashes,  coal  ashes,  or  other  material ;  and  in  order  to  give 
them  apparent  value,  animal  matter  with  a  horrid  stench  is 
mixed  with  these  in  some  instances  (many  persons  are  induced 
to  think  that  a  manure,  in  order  to  be  good,  must  have  a  vile 
smell,  than  which  there  can  be  no  greater  mistake).  Such  mix- 
tures are  brought  into  the  market  as  new  compounds  under  all 
sorts  of  high-flown  names,  which  often  indicate  properties  in 
every  way  the  reverse  of  those  possessed  by  the  so-called  man- 
ures they  represent." 

No.  8.  '•  By  a  rudimentary  knowledge  of  Chemistry,  manures 
can  be  tested  with  sufficient  accuracy  to  assure  their  genuine- 
ness ;  various  operations  upon  the  farm  can  be  wonderfully  im- 
proved by  studying  Nature's  processes,  for  in  these  we  see  the 
working  of  the  Divine  hand,  at  once  so  wonderful,  so  simple, 
and  so  well  adapted  to  the  wants  of  mankind.  In  Mechanics, 
we  have  a  help  which  is  daily  being  increased,  by  the  genius  of 
our  people,  and  the  farmer  can,  by  devising  various  simple 
changes  in  machines,  no  doubt  increase  their  usefulness,  or  the 
uses  of  them." 

No.  9.  "  I  do  not  forget  that  science  is  in  its  infancy;  there 
are  numerous  secrets  which  Nature  refuses  to  give  up,  and 
which,  with  all  the  chemical  and  mechanical  aids  available,  the 


ANALYSES.  235 

most  arduous  researches  have  not  been  able  to  get  from  her, 
except  by  degrees ;  as  fresh  discoveries  come  to  Hght,  I  will 
make  every  effort  to  take  advantage  of  them  in  improving  the 
*  Complete  Manure,'  while  farmers  can  at  all  times  rely  upon 
receiving  '  the  worth  of  their  money  '  when  purchasing  it." 

After  the  above,  a  brief  breathing  pause  should 
be  allowed  to  our  readers.  Such  an  extensive 
knowledge  of  Chemistry,  as  applied  to  Agricul- 
ture, should  enable  Mr.  Bower  to  produce  a 
"  Complete  Manure."  But  if  our  readers  will 
compare  these  remarks  of  Mr.  Bower  with  our 
analyses  of  his  "  Complete  Manure,"  the  ap- 
plication of  the  Fable  of  the  mountain  in  labor^ 
when  '^ itascitur  ridiculas  mus''  (a  miserable 
mouse  was  brought  forth),  will  be  appreciated. 

TESTIMONIALS. 

No.  1.  "  Messrs.  Booth  &  Garrett,  of  Philadelphia,  Chemists 
of  high  respectability,  say,  in  speaking  of  the  '  Complete  Ma- 
nure,' in  a  note  to  Messrs.  Dixon,  Sharpless  &  Co.,  dealers  in 
fertilizers  : 

"  The  constitution  of  the  above  indicates  a  decided  advance 
in  the  composition  of  a  fertilizer,  by  the  introduction  of  a  con- 
siderable percentage  of  Potassa,  and  countenances  the  claim  in- 
volved in  the  name  '  Complete  Manure.'  " 

No.  2.  "  The  report  upon  the  '  Complete  ManurS,'  made  by 
Messrs.  "Williams  &  Moss,  of  Philadelphia,  Chemists  of  large 
experience  in  the  analysis  of  fertilizers,  says  : 

'*  We  find  from  an  analysis  of  your  '  Complete  Manure,'  that 
the  name  you  have  given  it  is  certainly  warranted  by  its 
chemical  composition  ;  in  addition  to  thus  cordially  recommend- 
ing your  fertilizer  from  a  chemical  stand  point,  we  should  state 
that  its  mechanical  condition  is  most  excellent,  being  such  as  to 
admit  of  its  use  in  the  drill  without  further  preparation." 
16 


236  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

No.  3.     "Mining  and  Assay  Office  and  Chemical  Labora- 
tory, No.   57  Broadway,  opposite  Exchange 
Place,  New  York,  October  10th,  1867. 
"  Henry  Bower,  Esq.,  Philadelphia. 

"  Dear  Sir: — Eaclosed  please  find  results  of  an  analysis  of  a 
sample  of  yonr  '  Complete  Manure,'  taken  from  Dixon  & 
Sharpless'  warehouse,  September  25th. 

"  These  results  show  at  a  glance  the  great  merit  your  article 
possesses  as  a  fertilizer,  and  warrant  the  opinion  that  it  will 
take  a  leading  rank  among  manures.  The  liberal  proportions 
of  soluble  phosphoric  acid,  ammonia  and  potash,  afford  to  soil 
a  large  amount  of  nutriment  immediately  available  to  growing 
crops,  while  the  remainder  of  the  phosphoric  acid,  becoming 
gradually  soluble  through  atmospheric  influences,  assures  a 
lasting  supply  of  plant  food. 

"  The  introduction  of  potash,  and  the  nice  adjustment  of  the 
proportions  of  the-  above  ingredients,  render  the  name  you 
have  given  your  fertilizer  particularly  appropriate,  as  it  con- 
tains all  the  elements  necessary  to  insure  success,  and  I  am 
confident  that  wherever  it  is  used  its  reputation  will  rapidly 
extend.  "  Kespectfully  yours, 

"  C.  Elton  Buck." 

No.  4.  "  Office  State  Geological  Survey, 

New  Brunswick,  N.  J.,  July  15th,  1869. 

*'  Dear  Sir : — Your  letter  of  May  20th  was  duly  received. 
The  five  bags  of  your  *  Complete  Manure  '  so  generously  sent 
to  the  College  Farm  were  also  duly  received.  For  this  donation 
I  desire  to  tender  the  thanks  of  the  Trustees  of  the  College,  and 
to  say  that  it  was  immediately  used  in  trials  upon  corn,  beets, 
and  carrots,  and  on  potatoes  ;  and  also  it  has  been  subjected  to 
chemical  analysis.  The  results  of  these  will  be  given  in  the 
annual  report  upon  the  farm,  which  is  made  to  the  Legislature, 
and  is  printed  and  circulated  extensively  throughout  the  Slate. 
An  earlier  acknowledgment  ought  to  have  been  made,  but  it 
has  been  delayed  so  as  to  send  the  chemical  analysis,  and  that, 
though  long  expected,  has  but  recently  been  completed.  The 
crops  upon  which  the  '  Manure '  was  tried  are  looking  well.  The 
results  of  the  analysis  show  it  to  be  a  valuable  fertilizer,  and  aH 


ANALYSES.  237 

that  I  have  heard  of  it  is  in  its  favor.     I  hope  to  send  you  fur 
ther  reports  of  it  in  the  course  of  the  season. 
"  Eespectfully  yours, 

*'  George  H.  Cook, 
"  To  Henry  Bower,  Esq.  State  Geologist." 

No.  5.         "Laboratory    of   thr  Medical  College,  Queen 

STREET,  Charleston,  S.  G.,  December  9th,  1869. 

**  This  article  certainly  deserves  the  name  it  bears,  i.  e.,  of  a 

Complete  Manure — furnishing  to  the  plant  all  the  important 

elements  of  its  food. 

"  Cfiarles  U.  Shepard,  M.  D. 
Inspector  of  Fertilizers  for  South  CarohnaJ* 

No.  6.  'Savannah,  Ga.,  February  1st,  1870. 

"  I  take  pleasure  in  saying  that  the  accompanying  analysis  of 
Bower's  Complete  Manure,  made  for  Messrs.  Hacker  &  Molony, 
Savannah,  Ga.,  warrants  our  confidence  in  its  fertilizing  proper- 
ties. Its  amount  of  Ammonia,  and  its  excellent  supply  of 
Phosphoric  Acid,  in  a  soluble  state,  will  ensure  the  early  growth 
and  development  of  the  plant,  together  with  a  fine  fruitage,  to 
which  the  Phosphoric  Acid  mainly  contributes,  and  these  re- 
sults may  be  expected  for  the  first  year,  while  the  amount  of  in- 
soluble Phosphate  remaining  in  the  soil  will,  by  slow  chemical 
reaction  going  on  during  the  suceeding  Fall  and  Winter,  pre- 
pare the  land  for  a  better  crop  during  the  year. 

"A  Means,  Inspector." 

The  farmer  after  reading  the  above  testimo- 
nials and  comparing  them  with  the  analyses  of 
the  ^^  Complete  Manure  "  furnished  by  lis,  would 
naturally  be  induced  to  ask  the  following  ques- 
tions :  Where  are  the  analyses  of  the  '^  Complete 
Manure  "  furnished  by  these  gentlemen  ?  Is  it 
excessive  modesty,  or  some  other  motive,  that 
prevents  Mr.  Bower  from  publishing  them  2  Was 


238  AMERICAN    MANURES. 

the  "Complete  Manure  "  made  of  a  hettei'  quality^ 
at  the  time  these  testimonials  were  given,  than 
it  is  at  present  ?  If  it  was  not,  what  are  we  to 
characterize  these  chemists,  who  knowingly  allow 
their  names  to  be  used  to  encourage  the  perpetra- 
tion of  such  a  great  fraud  ?  If  these  chemists 
gave  candid  and  honest  statements  at  the  time, 
and  its  present  deterioration  is  due  to  Mr.  Bower, 
we  think  it  is  due  to  those  of  them  that  are 
honest  and  capable,  and  most  of  whose  opinions 
should  have  weight  with  the  community,  and  also 
to  Mr.  Bower  himself,  if  he  desires  to  he  con- 
sidered  an  honest  man^  at  once  to  withdraw  these 
testimonials,  and  modify  his  circular  so  as  to 
bring  its  statements  within  the  bounds  of  truth  ; 
or,  if  this  be  distasteful  to  him,  let  him  make 
reparation  to  his  customers,  and  in  the  future 
manufacture  a  better  article  than  was  sold  to  us 


ANALYSES. 


239 


ANALYSES    OF    THE    PATAP8C0    GUANO    COM- 
PANY'S AMMONIATED  SOLUBLE  PHOSPHATE! 
Percentage,  or  amount  contained  in  100. 


Water  (expelled  at  ] 
2120Fahrenheit).  J 

Nitrogen. 

Nitrogen  in  organic  | 
matter.  j 

Potash,  soluble    in  ") 
acidulated  water.  J 

Phosphoric  Acid 
(anhydrous),  sol- 
uble in  water  at 
60O  to  70O  R 

Insoluble  Phos- 
phoric Acid  (an- 
hydrous). 


1st 
Sample. 

14-97 

2ncl 
Sample. 

15-06 

0-73 

0-82 

1-54 

1-58 

0-62 

0-65 

8-43 

8-21 

6-56 

6-69 

15-02 

0-78  =0-95  .^^«*"=''^n'- 
I     monia. 

1-56 


0-64 


8-32  r 


6-63  =  14-47 


I  Superphos- 
phate of 
Lime. 

[  BonePhos- 
phate  of 
Lime. 


From  the  mean  of  the  above  analyses,  we 
deduce  the  following  amounts,  contamed  in  a 
ton,  or  2000  lbs.,  together  with  the  value  of  a 
ton  to  the  former  : 

300-40  lbs.  Water @  $  0.00  per  lb.  $  0.00 

19-00    "     Actual  Ammonia @      0.25       "  4.75 

31-20    "     Nitrogen  in  organic  matter.  @      0.15       "  4.08 

12-80"     Potash @      0.08      '*  1.02 

1G6-40   "     Soluble  Phosphoric  Acid...  @      0.12J    *'        20.80 
132-60"     Insoluble         "  "     ...@      0.00      "  0.00 


Total  value  as  fertilizer $31.25 

Value  of  bags  (say) ^. 2.00 


Total  value  to  farmer $33.25 

The  above  phosphate  is  sold  at  $55  per  ton, 
involving  a  loss  of  $21.75,  or  nearly  66  per  cent, 
to  the  farrher  on  every  ton  he  purchases  ;  or,  in 
other  words,  he  pays  for  it  nearly  I3  times  as 
much  as  it  is  worth. 


240  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

PATAPSCO   GUANO  COMPANY'S  AMMO- 
NIATED  SOLUBLE  PHOSPHATE! 

The  above  fertilizer,  from  which  samples  for 
analyses  were  selected,  was  purchased  at  the 
company's  office,  Baltimore.  It  is  put  up  in  bags 
marked  167  lbs.;  the  bag  purchased  weighed 
170  lbs.  Its  mechanical  condition  was  very  bad. 
We  found  hard  lumps  in  it,  as  large  as  a  504b. 
cannon  ball;  as  the  manufacturers  recommend 
this  article  to  be  drilled,  we  are  in  doubt  whether 
they  meant  the  drill  of  the  farmer,  or  the  drill 
of  the  quarryman.  From  our  experience  in  pul- 
verizing the  article,  we  incline  to  think  it  was 
the  latter.  This  is  a  very  objectionable  feature 
of  this  fertilizer,  and  must  necessarily  give  the 
farmer  considerable  trouble.  In  an  attempt  to 
conform  with  the  laws  of  the  State  of  Maryland, 
there  were  some  lettering  and  figures  on  the  bag, 
which  we  are  charitable  enough  to  concede  were 
intended  for  an  analysis.  After  considerable 
trouble,  we  set  down  the  following,  which  if  not 
correct,  we  shall  feel  under  obligation  to  the  com- 
pany if  they  will  notify  us  : 

Soluble  Phosphates 24-00 

Insoluble  Phosphates 18'00 

Ammonia 4'00 

Salts  of  Potash 7-00 

This,  to  say  the  least,  is  a  garbled  analysis. 
It  states  that  this  superphosphate  contains  24 


ANALYSES.  241 

per  cent,  of  "  Soluble  Phosphates/'  but  as  to  the 
amount  of  phosphoric  acid  in  the  "  Soluble  Phos- 
phates "  we  are  left  entirely  in  the  dark.  Again, 
we  are  informed  that  the  superphosphate  con- 
tains 7  per  cent,  of  "  Salts  of  Potash/'  but  as 
to  the  amount  of  potash  we  remain  uninformed. 
By  referring  to  our  analyses,  the  reader  will  no- 
tice less  than  one  per  cent,  of  potash,  and  by 
converting  this  potash  into  the  sulphate  or  mu- 
riate, he  will  obtain  less  than  two  per  cent.,  which 
shows  a  great  discrepancy  in  the  analyses.  We 
quote  the  following  from  the  circular  of  these 
manufacturers  : 

"  With  their   increased   facihties,  improved  machinery,  and 
skilled  workmen,  under  the  superintendence  of 

DR.  G.  A.  LIEBIG, 

who  personally  selects  and  tests  every  article  used  in  its  manu- 
facture, and  is  constantly  present  at  the  works  and  directs 
every  department,  is  a  sufficient  guarantee  that  its  manufac- 
ture can  be  relied  upon  as  being  equal  to  anything  which  can 
be  produced. 

"  The  company  continues  to  use  the  celebrated 

NAYASSA  PHOSPHATE, 

(the  richest  phosphatic  guano  now  known)  which,  together 
with  the  other  ingredients,  and  its  careful  preparation,  produce 
those  prompt  and  permanent  effects  which  have  uniformly  been 
shown  upon  all  crops  upon  which  it  has  been  applied." 


242 


AMERICAN   MANURES. 


ANALYSES  OF  NEEDLES'  TMPROYED  SUPERPHOS- 
PHATE OF  LIME. 

Percentage,  or  amount  contained  in  100. 


1st 
Sample. 

2a 

Sample. 

5-59 
0-19 
0-63 

Mean. 

AVater  (expelled  at ") 

2 12°  Fahrenheit)] 

Nitroo'en 

5-63 
0-17 
0-60 

5-61 
0-18  = 
0-62 

_  Q.22  1  Actual  Ara- 
1     monia. 

Nitrogen   in  org. ) 
matter .'  J 

Potash,  soluble  in  ) 
acidulated  water  ) 

trace 

trace 

trace 

Phosphoric    Acid' 

(anhydrous),  sol- 
uble in  water  at 

trace 

trace 

trace 

60O  to  70°  F  .  . .  J 

Insoluble      Phos-  -j 

r  Bone  Phos- 

phoric  Acid  (an-  I 

22-43 

22-55 

22-49=- 

^49-10  J      phate    of 

hydrous) J 

l      Lime. 

From  the  mean  of  the  above  analyses,  we  de- 
duce the  following  amounts,  contained  in  a  ton, 
or  2000  lbs.,  together  with  the  value  of  a  ton  to 
the  farmer : 

112-20  lbs.  Water @ 

4-40    "     Actual  Ammonia @ 

12-40    "     Nitrogen  in  org.  matter @ 

Trace  Potash 


449-80 


Trace  Soluble  Phos.  Acid . .  @ 
Insoluble  Phos.  Acid @ 


$0.00  per  lb.  $0.00 

0.25        ^'  LIO 

0.15        "  1.S6 

0.08        «  0.00 

0.12i      *^  0.00 

0.00        ''  0.00 


Total  value  as  fertilizer $  2.96 

Value  of  bags  (say) 2.00 


Total  value  to  farmer 4.96 

The  above  Phosphate  is  sold  at  $47  per  ton, 
involving  a  loss  to  the  farmer  of  $42.04,  or  847 
per  cent,  on  every  ton  he  purchases ;  or,  taking 
the  manure  alone,  he  pays  for  it  nearly  16  times 
as  much  as  it  is  worth. 


ANALYSES  243 

NEEDLES'  IMPROVED  SUPERPHOS- 
PHATE  OF  LIME. 

The  above  fertilizer,  from  which  samples  for 
analyses  were  selected,  was  purchased  at  the 
manufacturer  s  office,  Philadelphia.  It  is  put  up 
in  200  lb.  bags;  the  one  purchased  weighed  187 
lbs.,  being  13  lbs.  less  than  it  should  be  with  the 
bag  included,  or  130  lbs.  on  a  ton.  The  mechani- 
cal condition  of  this  fertilizer  was  good,  and 
could  be  easily  applied  by  a  drill.  When  we 
have  said  that,  we  have  said  all  that  is  possible 
for  us  to  say  in  its  favor.  Therefore  we  make 
the  following  selections  from  Mr.  Needles'  circu- 
lar, which  show  conclusively  that  even  tritth, 
which  costs  nothing  but  an  honest  intention,  is 
too  valuable  to  waste  on  his  worthless  product : 

1.  "It  is  always  of  the  same  pure  quality." 

2.  "  It  is  a  permanent  enricher  of  the  soil." 

3.  •'  It  loses  none  of  its  strength  by  exposure  to  the  air." 

4.  "  It  is  the  cheapest  Phosphate  in  the  country." 

5.  "  We  were  the  originators  of  the  preparation  of  this  well 
known  manure  in  Philadelphia,  our  house  having  been  engaged 
for  over  twenty-one  years  in  the  manufacture  and  sale  of  Con- 

CExN'TRATED  FERTILIZERS." 

In  commenting  on  this  fertilizer,  and  the  above 
remarks,  only  a  few  words  are  necessary,  as  the 
fertilizer  can  only  be  characterized  as  a  scanda- 
lous cheat  and  an  unmitigated  swindle  on  the 
community. 


244  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

The  reader  will  notice  from  the  analyses  that 
it  contains  only  a  trace  of  Soluble  Pliosphoric 
Acid  ;  consequently,  it  has  not  the  least  preten- 
sion to  be  called  a  "  Superphosphate."  It  is  a 
fraud  in  weight  as  well  as  in  quality,  and  if  Mr. 
Needles  has  been  manufacturing  a  similar  arti- 
cle, and  giving  such  deficient  weight  for  the  past 
twenty-one  years,  common  justice,  and  common 
law,  should  have  sufficient  power  to  restrain  him 
from  continuing  his  criminal  practices,  and  pun- 
ish him  according  to  his  deservings.  And  if 
twenty-one  years  have  been  devoted  to  such 
practices,  the  remainder  of  his  life  should  be  de- 
voted to  making  a  partial  atonement  for  the 
wrongs  perpetrated  on  his  customers. 

The  article  is  simply  ground  mineral  phos- 
phate, with  a  possible  scattering  of  bones,  and  if 
there  was  any  Sulphuric  Acid  used  in  its  prepa- 
ration, there  was  not  a  sufficient  quantity  to 
liberate  but  a  trace  of  Soluble  Phosphoric  Acid, 
so  that  it  may  only  be  considered  a  raw  mate- 
rial for  the  manufacture  of  a  Superphosphate. 
Such  outrageous  frauds  as  these  are  calculated  to 
excite  the  indignation  of  all  the  community. 

The  fact  that  such  frauds  can  be  successfully 
practised  for  twenty-one  years,  proves  conclu- 
sively the  necessity  of  just  such  information  as 
is  given  in  this  book 


ANALYSES. 


ANALYSES  OF  TPIE  BROMOPHYTE  FERTILIZER. 

Percentage,  or  amount  contained  in  100. 


1st 
Sample. 

2d 
Sample. 

Mean. 

Water  (expelled  at  ) 
•  2120 Fahrenheit),  J 
Nitrogen. 

Nitrogen  in  organic  | 
matter.                    j 

13-02 
0-18 
0-75 

13-20 
0-17 
0-83 

1311 
0'18  = 
0-79 

.  0-22  1  ^^*"^^-^^- 
1     monia. 

Potash,    soluble   in  | 

acidulated  water,  j 

0-23 





Phosphoric       Acid  ^ 
(anhydrous),   sol-  1 
uble  in  water    at 

trace 

trace 

trace 

60O  to  70°  F.         J 

Insoluble  Phos-'\ 

phoric  Acid  (an-  (- 

1-51 

.... 

•  •  •  ■ 

hydrous).                J 

From  the  analyses,  we  deduce  the  following 
amounts,  contained  in  a  ton,  or  2000  lbs.,  together 
with  the  value  of  a  ton  to  the  farmer  : 


262-20  lbs.  Water @ 

4'40    "     Actual  Ammonia @ 

15-80    "     Nitrogen  in  organic  mat.  @ 

4-60    "     Potash @ 

Trace  Soluble  Phos.  Acid  @ 
30-20    ''    Insoluble  '*        "  .  ® 


;0.00perlb. 

$0.00 

0.25      " 

1.10 

0.15      " 

2.37 

0.08      " 

0.37 

0.12J    '' 

0.00 

0.00      '' 

0.00 

Total  value  as  fertilizer $  3.84 

Value  of  bags  (say) 2.00 

Total  value  to  farmer $  5.84 

The  above  fertilizer  is  sold  at  $40  per  ton,  in- 
volving a  loss  of  $34.16,  or  585  per  cent,  to  the 
farmer  on  every  ton  he  purchases ;  or,  for  the 
manure  alone,  he  pays  $36.16,  which  is  more 
than  9  times  as  much  as  it  is  worth. 


246  AMERICAN    MANURES. 

THE  BROMOPHYTE  FERTILIZER. 

The  above  fertilizer,  from  which  samples  for 
analyses  were  selected,  Avas  purchased  at  the 
company's  office,  Philadelphia.  Its  mechanical 
condition  Avas  good,  which  is  almost  the  only 
good  thing  it  can  conscientiously  boast  of  We 
make  the  following  selections  from  the  circular 
of  this  company,  with  the  analyses  of  the  Bro- 
mophyte  by  Prof  Blaney  : 

**  In  the  inaDiifacture  of  Bromophyte,  the  most  scnipulous 
regard  is  paid  to  the  laws  of  chemistry ;  and  to  distinguish  this 
fertilizer  from  all  others — which  we  neither  endorse  nor  con- 
demn— we  have  called  it  Bromophyte.  This  term  is  taken 
from  two  Greek  words,  which  signify /oocZ  for  plants." 

"  The  farmer  and  planter  will  see  at  once  that  his  interest  is 
our  interest.  We  cannot  hope  to  succeed  unless  we  make  good 
our  promises.  Nothing  is  surer  than  our  failure  if  we  do  not 
give  the  farmer  the  worth  of  his  money.  We  can,  therefore, 
have  no  motive  in  deceiving  any  one." 

"  We  otfer  this  fertilizer  at  about  one-half  the  cost  of  guano, 
while  its  value,  we  are  led  to  believe,  is  equal  to  if  not  better 
than  the  best  Peruvian." 

"The  attention  of  the  Fruit  Growers'  Association  of  Wash- 
ington was  lately  called  to  this  Bromophyte,  and  a  member  of 
the  Association,  Professor  Thomas  Taylor,  a  well-known 
chemist,  at  a  meeting  held  August  3,  1869,  read  a  paper  upon 
the  subject,  from  which  we  make  several  extracts :" 

"  Mr.  President  and  Gkntlrmen  : — I  have  here  a  sample  of 
a  valuable  fertilizer,  which  is  attracting  much  attention  at  this 
time.  It  is  known  by  the  name  of  Bromophyte,  which  signi- 
fies j^Zant /ood.  Its  base  is  human  excreta,  including  urine, 
and  is  submitted  to  a  process  of  deodorization  by  which  it  is 
deprived  of  its  smell. 

"The  efficacy  of  peat,  which  is  used,  is  due  to  the  soluble 
salts  which  it  contains,  and  to  its  property  of  absorbing  am- 
monia from  the  atmosphere — having  an  absorbing  power  of 
seventy-two  times  its  own  bulk. 


ANALYSES.  247 

"  Marl,  one  of  the  constituents  of  Broraophyte,  is  valuable 
for  various  reasons — it  is  a  composition  of  clay  and  shells,  the 
clay  being  the  more  important  substan.ce  of  the  two.  Its  very 
valuable  properties  were  first  pointed  out  by  Professor  Way, 
Chemist  of  the  English  Royal  Agricultural  Society.  He  says 
that  clay  will  decompose  the  salts  of  ammonia,  potash  and  soda, 
and  retain  their  bases." 

"At  the  close  of  Mr.  Taylor's  remarks,  Mr.  William  Saun- 
ders, of  the  Agricultural  Department,  proposed  a  vote  of 
thanks  to  Mr.  Taylor  for  his  valuable  remarks,  which  was 
unanimously  carried. 

*'  The  following  statement  has  been  received  from  Professor 
Blaney,  of  Chicago,  relative  to  the  merits  of  Bromophyte  : 

''  Chicago,  Odoler  26,  1870. 
"This  is  to  certify  that  I  have  examined  the  specimens  of 
Bromophyte  submitted  to  me,  and  have  found  the  same  to  be 
composed  as  follows  : 

Volatile  matter,  organic  matter,  water  and  a 

trace  of  free  ammonia 59*05 

Inorganic  matter 40*95 

The  Bromophyte  contains  of  salts  40*95  per  cent.,  namely  : 

Sulphate  of  Lime 17*6765 

Phosphate  of  Lime 1*4922 

Phosphate  of  Magnesia 1*1335 

Carbonate  of  Magnesia 2*2613 

Chloride  of  sodium 2*0540 

Sesquioxide  of  Iron  and  Alumina 5*0790 

Insoluble  Silicates 11*2690 

Chloride  of  Potassium,  a  tra'^e. 

Total 40*9655 

Gain -0155 

40*9500 
"  The  Bromophyte  was  found  by  organic  analysis  to  contain 
nitrogen,  3*92  per  cent.,  equivalent  to  ammonia,  4*76  per  cent. 

"  James  V.  T.  BiiANRY, 
^^ Analytical  and  Consulting  Chemist." 
"  P.  S. — It  will  be  seen,  by  comparing  with  analysis  of  guano, 
that  Bromophyte  is  two  per  cent,  the  stronger." 


248  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

After  making  an  analysis  of  this  "  Bromo- 
PHYTE,"  and  knowing  its  composition  and  value, 
we  doubt  whetlier  the  writer  of  the  circular,  or 
even  Professors  Taylor  and  Blaney  were  in 
earnest  in  their  encomiums  of  this  article.  We 
rather  think  these  gentlemen  have  endeavored  to 
perpetrate  a  practical  joke  on  the  farmers.  That 
any  chemist  (and  Prof  Taylor  is  represented  to 
be  one),  should  seriously  recommend  the  use  of 
peat  and  marl,  clay  and  shells  in  a  high-priced 
fertilizer  that  sells  for  two  cents  per  lb.,  is  almost 
incredible  ;  or  that  Prof.  Blaney  should  seriously 
say  that  it  is  two  per  cent,  stronger  than  guano, 
is  certainly  beyond  belief. 

The  farmers  who  have  used  the  article  seem 
to  have  been  in  the  same  vein  of  humor,  so  pal- 
pably exhibited  by  the  facetious  Professors  Tay- 
lor and  Blaney,  as  the  following  specimens  of 
their  certificates  will  show  : 

GREAT  ON  TURNIP  TOPS. 

''AVashington,  D.  C,  April  1,  1869. 
*'  Randall  Fish,  Esq. 

^^Sir: — In  reply  to  your  note,  inquiring  about  your  fertilizer, 
I  am  happy  to  say  that  it  will  work  wonders. 

"  I  tried  it  last  season  on  some  turnips  as  late  as  the  1st  of 
October,  and  I  never  saw  such  a  crop  of  tops  in  my  life.  Of 
course,  it  was  too  late  to  fetch  a  full  crop,  yet  some  were  as 
large  as  hens'  eggs. 

"  I  do  not  hesitate  to  say  that  I  think  it  superior  to  any  ferti- 
lizer in  the  market,  as  it  will  benefit  the  ground  while  it  stimu- 
lates the  present  crop.  I  have  used  it  with  the  greatest  suc- 
cess, and   have  found  it  to  be  better  than  any  other,  having 


ANALYSES.  249 

used  it  side  by  side  with  the  Patapsco  and  other  fertilizers,  and 
it  far  exceeds  them.  It  has  proven  satisfactory  to  Dr.  Nichols, 
the  Superintendent  of  the  Insane  Asylum,  as  lie  has  this  spring 
purchased  five  tons  of  it.  "  Samuel  A.  Smith, 

**  Gardener  at  the  Insane  Asylum" 

We  should  expect  just  such  a  certificate  from 
an  Insane  Asylum. 

GREAT  ON  CUCUMBERS. 

"  Washington,  D.  C,  August  18,  1870. 
"  Randall  Fish,  Esq. 

"  Dear  Sir  : — I  have  used  your  fertiHzer,  called  Bromophyte, 
on  three  acres  of  cucumbers,  on  my  farm  at  Mt.  Yernon,  and 
can  say  that  I  beheve  it  to  be  a  first-rate  article.  A  few  rows 
I  left  without  any  fertilizer,  on  some  I  put  Peruvian  Guano, 
and  on  some  Patapsco  Guano.  Those  without  any  fertilizers 
are  very  poor,  but  where  your  fertilizer  v^as  used  they  are  very 
fine,  and  much  better  than  the  vines  that  were  fertilized  with 
the  Peruvian  or  Patapsco  Guano.      "  Dr.  E.  P.  Howland, 

"  iVb.  27  Four-and-a-Half  Street.'' 

DODGE  ON  BROMOPHYTE. 

"Washington,  D.  C. 
"I  have  seen  the  effects  and  examined  the  character  of  the 
fertilizer  manufactured  by  Randall  Fish,  and  am  satisfied  it  is 
among  the  best  now  offered  to  the  public.  I  have  used  it  on 
my  strawberries  and  other  plants,  and  find  the  effect  upon  their 
growth  superior  to  that  of  any  other  fertilizer  I  have  ever 
used.     I  shall  want  more. 

"  It  effects  wonders  on  every  kind  of  vegetable  to  which  I  have 
applied  it,  making  vegetation  grow  on  barren  soil. 

"  Yery  respectfully, 

"A.  T.  C.  Dodge." 

ThiSj  we  think,  is  a  very  good  specimen  of 
"  dodge."  As  it  makes  vegetation  grow  on  bar- 
ren  soil^  Bromophyte  must  contain  the  essence 
of  strawberries.  Who  will  eat  strawberries  after 
this? 


250  AMERICAN    MANURES. 

GASS  ON  BROMOPHYTE. 
"  Gelen,  Washington  Co.,  August  26,  1869. 
"  Mr.  Randall  Fish  : 

*'  I  have  used  your  Bromophy  te  on  tomatoes,  squashes,  cucum- 
bers and  on  corn,  and  must  say  that  it  exceeds  my  expecta- 
tions. I  believe  that  it  is  better  than  any  fertilizer  now  in  use. 
I  have  tried  most  all  kinds  in  the  market,  and  this  is  the  best 
I  have  ever  found.  I  have  examined  the  corn  to-day,  and  find, 
where  your  fertilizer  was  used,  it  was  a  deep  green,  and  where 
other  fertilizers  were  used  beside  it,  the  great  drought  had 
turned  the  leaves  yellow,  and  the  stocks  were  much  smaller. 

"  Yery  respectfully, 

"  John  Gass." 

We  fear  the  corn  was  not  so  green  as  the 
buyer  of  the  Bromophyte.  Taken  altogether  it 
is  a  very  gassy  certificate. 

A  20,000  POUNDER  CERTIFICATE. 

{The  biggest  gun  knoion.) 

"  Alexandria,  Ya.,  March  15,  1870. 
**  Randall  Fish,  Esq. 

"  Dear  Sir  : — Please  send  me  ten  tons  of  your  Bromophyte, 
the  most  economical  manure,  which  insures  the  quickest  and 
best  returns  of  any  I  have  ever  used.  Rely  on  me  as  a  custo- 
mer while  I  have  any  land  to  cultivate. 

"  Yours,  very  respectfully, 

*'  J.  Millard.'* 

If  the  Bromophyte  Mr.  Millard  purchased 
was  no  better  than  that  sold  to  us^  and  he  con- 
tinues to  go  it  so  strong  on  Bromophyte,  he  will 
soon  have  no  land  to  cultivate — it  will  be  in  the 
hands  of  the  sheriff. 

A    CERTIFICATE  FROM   THE  "  LAND  OF  DREAMS." 

''Norfolk,  Ya.,  May  13,  18Y0. 
''  C.  C.  Brown,  Esq. 

'' Dear  Sir  : — I  have  been  e.xpprimenting  last  fall  and  this 
spring  with  your  Bromophyte.     It  beats  any  fertilizer  I  know 


iiNALYSES.  251 

of.  For  early  truck  of  all  kinds  it  is  all  that  can  be  desired.  It 
is  destined  to  take  the  place  of  nearly  all  the  so-called  fertili- 
zers, now  so  numerous.  For  radishes,  it  beats  all  I  ever 
dreamed  of.  I  do  not  dare  to  tell  how  short  a  time  it  took  to 
produce  for  me  the  finest  radishes  I  ever  saw. 

''  Yours,  etc., 

*'  George  S.  Oldfield, 

^^  Formerly  Judge  of  County  Court." 

Query, — Does  the  Judge  often  dream  of 
radishes — it  must  be  an  interesting  subject  for  a 
Judge.  We  shall  next  expect  to  hear  of  the 
Judge  dreaming  of  '^  turnip  tops." 

FISHING  FOR  DODGE. 

*'  Washington,  D.  C.,  June  29,  1870. 
"  Randall  Fish,  Esq. 

"  Dear  Sir  : — In  reply  to  your  favor  of  to-day,  I  would  say 
that  I  have  used  the  Bromophyte — Fish's — in  my  garden  in  this 
city  for  two  years,  and  do  not  desire  anything  better  for  straw- 
berries. In  fact,  it  seems  to  impart  a  remarkably  strong  and 
healthy  growth  to  any  and  every  vegetable  to  which  I  have 
applied  it,  and  I  believe  it  is  superior  to  any  fertilizer  in  the 
market,  not  excepting  the  Peruvian. 

"  Respectfully,  yours,  etc., 

"  A.  T.  C.  Dodge." 

Another  specimen  of  ''  dodge ;"  being  better 
than  Peruvian  GuanOj,  we  think  it  slightly 
''  fishy." 

The  reader  will  notice  that  these  certificates 
are  given  by  farmers  in  the  vicinity  of  Wash- 
ington. The  Bromophyte  to  which  they  have 
reference  being  prepared  there.  We  do  not  say 
that  excreta  at  Washington  are  richer  than  at 
Philadelphia ;  but  it  is  possible  that  the  Wash- 
17 


252  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

ington  manufacturers  may  be  more  honesty  and 
make  a  better  article  than  their  Philadelphia 
brethren — it  is  almost  impossible  that  they 
could  make  a  worse.  The  use  of  these  certifi- 
cates by  the  Philadelphia  Company  is  literally 
stealing  the  thunder  of  the  excreta  of  Wash- 
ington. 

METHODS   OF   ANALYSIS. 

The  methods  of  analysis  employed  to  deter- 
mine the  amount  of  nitrogen,  actual  ammonia, 
and  potash,  and  of  phosphoric  acid  in  the  several 
manures,  of  which  analyses  are  given  in  this 
chapter,  are  of  too  intricate  a  nature  to  be  un- 
derstood by  the  general  reader.  Hence  we  state 
the  methods  only  in  general  terms,  with  such 
remarks  and  particulars  as  will  enable  profes- 
sional chemists,  into  whose  hands  our  work  may 
fall,  to  estimate  the  carefulness  with  which  they 
have  been  made. 

METHOD  FOR  TOTAL  NITROGEN. 

From  about  30  grammes  of  the  finely  pul- 
verized and  intimately  mixed  substance  1  to 
2  grammes  were  taken  for  analysis,  which  was 
made  according  to  Varrentrapp  and  Wills'  me- 
thod. We  remark,  that  the  actual  amount  of 
Nitrogen  was  calculated  from  the  actual  amount 
of  metallic  platinum  obtained,  and  not  from  the 


METHODS  OF  ANALYSIS.  253 

weight  of  the  precipitate,  as  is  sometimes  done  : 
the  former  being  considered  the  most  reliable. 

METHOD  FOR  ACTUAL  AMMONIA  AND  POTASH. 

Substance         =     50  grammes. 

Fluid  =  250  c.c. 

Fluid  taken     =    25  c.c.  =  5  grammes  substance. 

The  substance  in  an  evaporating  dish  was 
treated :  first,  with  small  quantities  of  water  at 
60°  to  70°;  then  boiled  successively  in  water 
acidulated  with  hydrochloric  acid';  and  finally, 
washed  on  a  filter  with  boiling  water,  till  the 
filtrate  measured  nearly  250  c.c. 

The  ammonia  was   determined  according  to 

SOHLOESING'S    PROCESS. 

strength  of  Soda  Solution,  3.06  c.c.  =  1  c.c.  Normal  Sulphuric  Acid. 

The  potash  was  determined  as  potassio-bichlo- 
ride  of  platinum. 

METHOD  FOR  TOTAL  PHOSPHORIC  ACID. 
Substance  =      20  grammes. 

Fluid  =  1000  c.c. 

Fluid  taken  =      50  c.c.  =  1  gramme  substance. 

The  hydrochloric  acid  solution,  with  the  addi- 
tion of  several  drops  of  concentrated  nitric  acid, 
was  evaporated  completely  to  dryness^  and  the 
residue  treated  with  dilute  hydrochloric  acid.  To 
the  solution  thus  obtained,  there  was  added; 
first,  citric  acid,  in  quantity  sufficient;  then 
ammonia ;  then,  acetic  acid,  each  slightly  in  ex- 
cess ;  and  finally,  to  the  nearly  boiling  solution, 


254  AMERICAN    MANURES. 

oxalate  of  ammonia  was  added.  The  precipitate 
obtained  was  collected  at  once  on  a  double  filter, 
and  to  the  cool  and  strongly  ammoniacal  filtrate, 
were  added,  6  to  10  c.c.  of  an  ammoniacal  ammo- 
nio-sulphate  of  magnesia  solution — each  c.c.  of 
which  corresponds  to  0.0358  gramme  anhydrous 
phosphoric  acid.  The  filtrate  and  wash  water 
measured  250  to  300  c.c,  and  for  every  54c.c.  of 
the  same,  0.000637  gramme  phosphoric  acid  was 
allowed. 

METHOD  FOR  SOLUBLE  PHOSPHORIC  ACID. 

Substance        =      20  grammes. 

Fluid  =  1000  c.  c. 

Fluid  taken      =     100  c.  c.=  2  grammes  substance. 

The  substance  was  triturated  in  a  mortar  with 
distilled  water,  at  60°  or  70°,^ the  powder  allowed 
to  settle,  and  the  fluid  decanted.  This  operation 
was  repeated  till  S  litre  of  fluid  was  obtained, 
when  the  powder  was  collected  on  a  filter  and 
washed  with  distilled  water  till  the  filtrate  mea- 
sured one  litre.  The  phosphoric  acid,  as  in  the 
previous  instance,  was  determined  gravimetri- 
cally. 

Note. — In  one  or  two  instances,  instead  of  1  to  2  grammes, 
10  grammes  of  the  substance  were  taken  for  the  phosphoric  acid 
determination. 

CONCLUDING  REMAEKS. 

Manufacturers  of  fertilizers  attach  great  im- 
portance to  the  certificates  of  farmers,  and  it  is 
considered  a  strong  point  as  an  evidence  of  the 


CONCLUDING   REMARKS.  255 

superior  quality  of  their  products;  hence  they 
procure  as  many  of  them  as  possible.  Two  ad- 
vantages are  thus  gained  :  First.  It  effectually 
closes  the  farmer's  mouth  for  subsequent  unfavor- 
able criticism.  Second.  Every  farmer's  opinion 
has  weight  in  the  circle  in  which  he  moves^  and 
his  favorable  report  of  a  fertilizer  induces  others 
to  give  it  a  triah  Thus  the  business  of  these 
manufacturers  is  increased,  and  the  farmer  un- 
wittingly becomes  a  party  to  their  frauds,  and 
when  his  neighbors  find  that  they  are  cheated, 
he  receives  his  share  of  blame.  Hence  farmers 
should  be  very  careful  in  giving  these  loosely 
worded  recommendations,  which  benefit  no  one 
but  the  manufacturers.  Those  who  have  given 
these  certificates  know  how  they  have  been  pro- 
cured ;  personal  friendship  for  the  manufacturer 
or  dealer^  has  led  many  to  give  favorable  re- 
ports, we  doubt  not  against  their  better  judg- 
ment, while  with  others,  perhaps,  the  desire  of 
seeing  their  name  in  print  has  its  influence. 

Certificates  are  a  part  of  the  stock  in  trade  of 
qiiaclceryj  and  no  honestly  conducted  business 
needs  them.  Besides  the  certificates  given  to 
different  manufacturers  when  taken  collectively 
do  not  amount  to  anything,  because  each  man- 
ure sold  is  represented  by  the  certificates  to  be 
the  best.  Such  conflicting  statements  are  with- 
out value  as  evidence ;  consequently,  the  farmer 


256  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

is  as  much  puzzled  in  the  selection  of  a  good 
manure,  as  he  would  be  without  seeing  the 
certificates. 

If  this  business  had  been  legitimately  con- 
ducted, and  the  price  regulated  by  the  quality 
and  condition  of  the  valuable  constituents  of  the 
fertilizer,  manufacturers  would  have  no  occasion 
to  resort  to  customers'  certificates. 

There  is  another  class  of  certificates  that,  un- 
fortunately, do  not  meet  the  public  eye,  namely  : 
The  complaints  of  those  who  have  realized  that 
they  have  been  swindled  in  the  purchase  of  these 
manures.  These  certificates  would  present  an 
interesting  sequel  to  the  others,  and  in  number 
as  well  as  in  force^  would  completely  overshadow 
them.  If  time  and  space  j)ermitted,  we  could 
give  a  long  list  of  these  negative  certificates  that 
would  be  anything  but  interesting  reading  for 
the  manufacturers.  An  illustration  of  the  un- 
reliability of  certificates  is  seen  in  the  samples 
we  have  given  from  the  users  of  the  Bromophyte, 
a  manure  that  is  almost  worthless.  Some  of  its 
users  certify  that  it  is  better  than  Peruvian 
Guano,  or  the  Patapsco  Ammoniated  Phosphate, 
the  latter,  according  to  our  analyses,  being  one 
of  the  best  superphosphates  now  made  in  this 
country.  Many  certificates  are  given  before  the 
crop  is  harvested ;  such  premature  statements 
must  be  verj^  unreliable.     Farmers  should  realize 


CONCLUDING   REMARKS,  257 

the  importance  of  knowing  the  source  of  the 
benefits  realized  before  giving  certificates.  It 
may  be  due  to  a  favorable  season,  to  substances 
already  in  the  soil,  or  to  the  manure,  or  to  all  three 
combined.  If  the  farmer  sees  a  favorable  ap- 
pearance in  his  crop,  he  is  too  apt  at  once  to 
attribute  it  exclusively  to  the  bought  fertilizer, 
forgetting  what  he  must  have  frequently  seen, 
when  using  stable  manure  alone,  that  one  year 
a  good  crop  may  be  raised,  and  the  next  time, 
though  equally  well  cultivated  and  manured,  a 
poor  one.  It  has  been  shown  that  the  amounts 
required  of  the  valuable  constituents  of  crops  are 
very  small.  Hence,  if  the  so-called  concentrated 
fertilizers  contain  but  a  little  of  what  is  really 
needed,  its  effect  on  the  crop  would  he  apparent. 
But  our  farmers  should  bear  in  mind  that  they 
pay  exorbitant  prices  for  the  benefits  received. 
If  they  apply  400  lbs.  of  a  fertilizer  costing  $50 
per  ton,  it  would  be  $10  to  the  acre,  and  they 
should  have  clear  views  of  the  amount  of  any 
crop  that  should  be  expected  from  such  an  out- 
lay. As  an  illustration,  25  bushels  of  wheat 
with  the  straw  requires : 

27-95  lbs.  of  Phosphoric  Acid  @  $0.12 J  per  lb $3.49 

39-65"      "Potash @    0.08        "       ....     3.17 

46-60"       "Nitrogen @    0.15        "        ....     6.99 


'%i^\  $13.65 

Hence,  if  an  outlay  of  $13.65  on  an  acre  should 


258  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

produce  25  bushels  of  wheat  with  the  straw,  an 
outlay  of  $10  to  an  acre  should  produce  over  18 
bushels  of  wheat  with  the  straw,  in  addition  to 
what  could  be  produced  without  the  application 
of  fertilizers,  or  if  we  allow  half  of  the  nitrogen 
to  be  represented  by  actual  ammonia  at  25  cents 
per  lb.,  an  outlay  of  $10  to  the  acre  should  pro- 
duce 14  J  bushels.  This  calculation  can  be 
readily  applied  to  other  crops  from  the  same 
data,  and  from  it  the  farmer  can  see  how  small 
the  amount  of  benefit,  in  increased  crops,  he  has 
derived  from  the  use  of  these  fraudulent  manures 
in  proportion  to  the  money  invested.  We  are 
quite  sure  if  the  farmer  had  correct  views  on 
the  subject,  he  would  no  more  think  of  giving 
certificates  to  these  manufacturers,  than  he 
would  of  giving  a  certificate  of  good  character 
to  the  burglar  who  had  broken  into  his  house 
and  stolen  his  money,  but  spared  his  life,  or  to 
the  thief  who  had  stolen  his  horse  and  failed  to 
set  fire  to  his  barn. 

The  reader  should  now  be  fully  convinced 
from  the  facts  stated  and  analyses  given,  of  the 
absolute  necessity  of  National  and  State  legisla- 
tion to  protect  the  farmers  and  the  public  from 
the  rapacity  of  manufacturers  of  fertilizers. 
There  are  Grain,  Flour,  Liquor,  Tobacco,  Lea- 
ther, Oil,  Drug  and  other  Inspectors,  appointed 
to  protect  purchasers  and  honest  manufacturers 


CONCLUDING   REMARKS.  259 

and  dealers.  Fertilizers  are  equal  in  importance 
to  any  of  those  commercial  articles  mentioned, 
while  there  are  greater  facilities  for  fraud.  In 
England  and  other  European  countries,  the 
prices  of  these  fertilizers  are  fixed  by  the 
amount  and  value  of  the  fertilizing  elements 
contained  in  them,  according  to  the  manner  in- 
dicated in  this  book ;  and  in  this  matter,  we  are 
far  behind  those  countries  we  are  accustomed  to 
style  slow.  In  those  countries,  concentrated  fer- 
tilizers are  inspected  by  government  officials.  As 
the  result  of  the  rigid  inspection  laws  of  Ger- 
many, purchasers  are  protected.  We  quote  from 
the  circular  of  George  Charles  Zimmer,  at  Man- 
heim,  one  of  the  largest  manufacturers  of  fer- 
tilizers in  Germany,  and  give  three  analyses  of 
the  superphosphates  manufactured  by  him,  to 
show  the  operation  of  the  law : 

These  fertilizers  are  always  sold  and  delivered  of  an  ap- 
proved, uniform,  superior  quality,  and  their  ingredients  war- 
ranted;  samples  of  the  same  are  deposited  with  the  Central 
Agricultural  Department  of  the  Grand  Duchy  of  Baden,  at 
Carlsruhe,  under  whose  control  the  products  of  the  factory  are 
placed  by  law.  The  monthly  official  analyses  of  supplies  on 
hand  in  the  manufactory,  are  published  from  time  to  time  in 
the  Weekly  Journal  of  the  Agricultural  Society  of  the  Grand 
Duchy  of  Baden,  and  every  purchaser  of  at  least  half  a  ton  at 
one  time  of  one  of  these  superphosphates,  has  the  privilege  to 
transmit  (free  of  charge)  with  enclosure  of  the  original  invoice, 
a  sample  of  the  same  to  Doctor  J.  Nessler,  the  President  of  the 
Experimental  Station,  at  Carlsruhe,  in  order  to  be  analyzed, 
)ree  of  expense,  to  the  purchaser.  Furthermore,  these  fertilizers 
are  subject  to  the  control  of  the  Agricultural  Societies  of  Hes- 


260  AMERICAN   MANURES. 

sen  on  the  Rhine,  Rhenish  Prussia,  etc.,  and  the  results  of  their 
investigations  are  communicated  to  the  public  from  time  to 
time,  in  their  respective  agricultural  papers. 

No.  1 — Analysis  of  Coprolite  Scperphosphate. 

Percentage.  Equal  to 

Soluble    Phos-|    ta    +^  n  i^    +^  to     (Superphosphate 

phoric  Acid,  I    ^^    ^^  ^^    -  ^^    *^  1^    I      of  Lime. 

Insoluble  Phos- 1      o    +^     ^  c    +^     o     f  Bone  Phosphate 

phoric  Acid,  I      ^    to     4   -     b    to     8     I      ^^  ^-^^^^^ 

No.  2 — Analysis  of  Bone  Meal  Superphosphate. 

Percentage.  Equal  to 

Soluble    Phos- 1    -,  o    +^  i^    oo    +^  o/i      (Superphosphate 

phoric  Acid,  I  ^^    ^^  ^^   —  ^^    ^^  ^^     I      of  Lime. 

Insoluble  Phos- "I      o    +^     ^  ^    +^     o     ( Bone  Phosphate 

phoric  Acid,  I     3    to     4   ^     6    to     8     I     ^f  Lime.^- 
Nitrogen 0*5    to     1  

No.  3. — Analysis  of  Baker  Guano  Superphosphate. 

Percentage.  Equal  to 

phoric  IS; }    18    to  20    =  30    to  32     { «TLt?'^'' 

Insoluble  Phos- "I      o    a       o  a    4.       a     ( Bone  Phosphate 

phoric  Acid,  I      2    to     3    =    4   to     6     I     ^^  Lime. 

On  comparing  the  above  analyses  of  super- 
phosphates made  in  Germany,  with  those  made 
by  our  boastful  manufacturers,  the  reader  will 
notice  that  their  lowest  grade  superphosphates 
contain  more  soluble  phosphoric  acid  than  our 
best^  and  that  the  insoluble  phosphoric  acid  (3  to 
4  per  cent.)  contained  in  those  made  at  Man- 
heim,  is  about  equal  to  the  average  amount  of 
soluble  phosphoric  acid,  in  American  commercial 
manures. 

THE   END. 


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